Added 9 October 2026
acquit
/əˈkwɪt/ verb
Latin root: acquitāre Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about acquit at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- To declare or find innocent or not guilty.
- To discharge (for example, a claim or debt); to clear off, to pay off; to fulfil.
-
to discharge, release, or set free from a burden, duty, liability, or obligation, or from an accusation or charge. .mw-parser-output .object-usage-tag{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output .deprecated{color:var(--wikt-palette-grey-lime-8,olivedrab)}[with of or from]
The jury acquitted the prisoner of the charge.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)