acquit

[uh-kwit]

See more synonyms for acquit on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ac·quit·ted, ac·quit·ting.

to relieve from a charge of fault or crime; declare not guilty: They acquitted him of the crime. The jury acquitted her, but I still think she's guilty.
to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.
to settle or satisfy (a debt, obligation, claim, etc.).

to bear or conduct (oneself); behave: He acquitted himself well in battle.
to free or clear (oneself): He acquitted himself of suspicion.

Origin of acquit

1200–50; Middle English aquiten < Anglo-French, Old French a(c)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- ac-, of quite free of obligations < Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin quiētus quiet¹; cf. quit¹

Related formsac·quit·ter, nounpre·ac·quit, verb (used with object), pre·ac·quit·ted, pre·ac·quit·ting.un·ac·quit·ted, adjective

Can be confusedacquitted innocent nolo contendere (see synonym study at innocent)

Synonyms for acquit

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. exculpate. 2. free.

Synonym study

1. See absolve.

Antonyms for acquit

1. convict.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for acquitted

vindicate, clear, absolve, free, discharge, exonerate, exculpate, relieve, whitewash, deliver, excuse, release, liberate, perform, conduct, comport, bear, act, carry, deport

Examples from the Web for acquitted

Contemporary Examples of acquitted

Of course, this does not mean that Elonis will be acquitted.
Does Free Speech Cover Murder Fantasies? The Supreme Court’s Definition of a ‘Threat’
Geoffrey R. Stone
December 1, 2014
After 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found that the evidence was insufficient and acquitted Lizzie.
Would You Stay in Lizzie Borden’s Ax-Murder House?
Nina Strochlic
October 30, 2014
The woman was acquitted of perjury, which could have landed the mother of three 15 years in jail.
The Democrats' Katherine Harris Strategy
Patricia Murphy
September 6, 2014
He was arrested, tried and, thanks to a technicality, acquitted.
Nigeria’s Larger-Than-Life Nobel Laureate Chronicles a Fascinating Life
Chimamanda Adichie
August 9, 2014
“Their trial had lasted nine months and they were acquitted in two hours,” he wrote.
Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed
Michael Daly
June 22, 2014

Historical Examples of acquitted

"Acquitted by a smile from Amelia, worth all our acclamations," said Mrs. Beaumont.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Their very simplicity and ignorance would have acquitted them.
The Celtic Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 3, January 1876
Various
He would like to say a few words, while there is time, to those who would have acquitted him.
Apology
Plato
On this wise the ambassadors were acquitted of all concern in the matter and dismissed.
Hellenica
Xenophon
Soon he had acquitted himself of his stewardship and given the check into her hand.
The Duke Of Chimney Butte
G. W. Ogden

British Dictionary definitions for acquitted

acquit

verb -quits, -quitting or -quitted (tr)

(foll by of)
1. to free or release (from a charge of crime)
2. to pronounce not guilty
(foll by of) to free or relieve (from an obligation, duty, responsibility, etc)
to repay or settle (something, such as a debt or obligation)
to perform (one's part); conduct (oneself)

Derived Formsacquitter, noun

Word Origin for acquit

C13: from Old French aquiter, from quiter to release, free from, quit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for acquitted

adj.

"freed, exonerated," 1670s, past participle adjective from acquit (v.). Formerly in this sense was acquit (late 14c.), perhaps on analogy of pps. such as hit.

acquit

early 13c., "to satisfy a debt" (either for oneself or on behalf of another), from Old French aquiter "pay, pay up, settle a claim" (12c.), from à "to" (see ad-) + quite "free, clear" (see quit (adj.)). Meanings "set free from charges" and "to discharge one's duty" both recorded from late 14c. Related: Acquitted; acquitting.