Acquits

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /əˈkwɪts/

Definitions

1. To absolve an individual of criminal charges, indicating a legal finding of innocence
2. To declare someone free from accusations, confirming their lack of culpability in a judicial context
3. To find someone not guilty of the charges brought against them in a court of law

Etymology: "Acquits" is the third-person singular present of "acquit," and the verb's most striking story is how far it has moved from its original sense. Middle English "aquiten" meant "to give in return" or "to pay back," and its meanings ranged from settling a debt and redeeming a pledge to making amends and behaving in a certain way. The legal sense of clearing someone of a charge was only one among these, and the court meaning grew out of the older idea of discharging an obligation. The chain of borrowing runs through Old French "aquiter," which meant "to act" or "do," and Medieval Latin "acquitare," meaning "to settle a debt." Beneath that lies "quitare," "to free," so the root idea is one of release. The verb is a doublet of "acquiet," and it is related to "quit," "quiet," and "acquiesce."

Synonyms: absolves, exonerates, clears, vindicates, releases

Antonyms: convicts, condemns, damns, accuses, blames