acquit Hear it!

acquit Definition

ac·quit (ə kwit′)

transitive verb -·quit′·ted, -·quit′·ting

  1. to release from a duty, obligation, etc.
  2. to clear (a person) of a charge, as by declaring him not guilty; exonerate
  3. to bear or conduct (oneself); behave
  4. Archaic to pay (a debt or claim)

Etymology: ME aquiten < OFr aquiter, to free < ML acquitare, to settle a claim < L ad-, to + quietare: see quiet

acquit Related Forms

ac·quit′·ter noun

acquit Synonyms

acquit

v.

  1. To exonerate

    clear, absolve, vindicate; see absolve, excuse.

  2. To behave

    comport, conduct, bear, act; see behave 2. See syn. study atabsolve, behave.

acquit Law Definition

v

  1. In criminal law, to clear a person, to release or set him free, or to discharge him from an accusation of committing a criminal offense after a judicial finding that he is not guilty of the crime or after the court or prosecution determines that the case should not continue after the criminal trial has started. See also autrefois acquit and double jeopardy.
  2. In contract law, to pay or discharge a debt, duty, or a claim.

acquit Usage Examples

Object

  • defendant: An acquitted defendant will not be required to pay toward his defense.
  • jury: The verdict Following the 11 week Old Bailey trial, on 6 May 1994, the jury acquitted Malcolm Kennedy of murder.
  • person: Urgent detention of acquitted persons Section 134: power of court to detain acquitted persons 259.
  • court: But in late 2002 a US court acquitted Elcomsoft and said the firm had done nothing wrong.

Preposition: on

  • count: He was acquitted on all counts; the prosecution then appealed to the General Assembly.
  • charge: He was acquitted on charges of plotting to overthrow the Sudanese Government on August 22nd 1998.

Subject

jury: Two youths were acquitted by the jury on 25 April, 2002.

Modifying Another Word

  • honorably: He was honorably acquitted of blame by a court martial.
  • formally: He was formally acquitted of the charge by the trial judge Mrs Justice Heather Hallett.
  • subsequently: The two officers concerned were found guilty of cruelty to animals, although they were subsequently acquitted by the Appeal Court three years later.
  • eventually: She is eventually acquitted at her trial, thanks to evidence from an old woman who had been paid to give her an alibi.
  • finally: Ferlinghetti was finally acquitted and Ginsberg became a household name.

Preposition: in

court: Six months later they were acquitted in Israeli courts.

Preposition: of

  • manslaughter: The two acquitted of manslaughter on the direction of the judge.
  • murder: Once in court she is acquitted of the murder.
  • blame: He was honorably acquitted of blame by a court martial.
  • charge: He was formally acquitted of the charge by the trial judge Mrs Justice Heather Hallett.
  • offense: From 4th April 2005 onwards, police will be able to re-investigate a person acquitted of a serious offense.
  • crime: His troops filled the capital and he was acquitted of the crime.

Preposition: by

jury: Two youths were acquitted by the jury on 25 April, 2002.