acquit

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acquit

/əˈkwɪt/ US, UK

Rhymes with -ɪt

Where it comes from

From Middle English aquī̆ten (“to give in return; to pay, repay; to redeem (a pledge, security), to make good (a promise); to make amends; to relieve of an obligation; to acquit, clear of a charge; to free; to deprive of; to do one's part, acquit oneself; to act, behave (in a certain way)”), from Old French aquiter (“to act, do”) and Medieval Latin acquitāre (“to settle a debt”), from ad- (“to”) + quitare (“to free”), equivalent to a- + quit. Doublet of acquiet; also related to quit, quiet and acquiesce.

verb acquits · acquitting · acquitted · acquit · acquite

transitive To declare or find innocent or not guilty. [W]hen God ſaith of himſelfe, that he is one who acquiting will not acquite the wicked, his meaning is, that whatſoeuer may be ſuppoſed becauſe of his patience, yet he will not fully and finally diſcharge thoſe who goe on ſtill in their vngodly courſes, and preſume vpon his Mercy, without repentance
transitive To discharge (for example, a claim or debt); to clear off, to pay off; to fulfil. Although it pleaſed you this other night (occasion by me unhappily miniſtred) to intertaine time with an ordinarie profeſſion of love, yet (maſter Rinaldo) you doe both me and your ſelfe great injurie to continue your needleſſe labour with ſuch importunancie to me. […] Thus muche (being your firſte
transitive to discharge, release, or set free from a burden, duty, liability, or obligation, or from an accusation or charge. The jury acquitted the prisoner of the charge.
reflexive To bear or conduct oneself; to perform one's part. The soldier acquitted herself well in battle.
reflexive To clear oneself. God forbid any Malice ſhould preuayle, / That faultleſſe may condemne a Noble man: / Pray God he may acquit him of ſuſpicion.
archaic, participle, past, transitive past participle of acquit.acquit Well I am glad I am ſo acquit of this tinder Boy.^([sic – meaning Box]) / His ſtealth was too open, his filching was like / An vnskilfull ſinger, he kept not time.
obsolete, transitive To release, to rescue, to set free. But be of cheare, and comfort to you take: / For till I haue acquitt your captiue knight, / Aſſure your ſelfe, I will you not forſake.
obsolete, rare, transitive To pay for; to atone for. For me I am the miſtreſſe of my fate, / And with my treſpaſſe neuer will diſpence, / Till life to death acquit my forſt offence.

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