US /əˈkwɪt/ UK /əˈkwɪt/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to free a person from a criminal charge by verdict

    The jury chose to acquit the defendant on all counts.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to free a person from a... absolveexonerateclearexculpatevindicatedischargerelease
Word family
Derived forms acquittalacquittanceacquitter
Related forms quitrequite

Etymology

From Old French aquiter ('to settle, pay off, set free'), from Medieval Latin acquitare, from Latin ad- ('to') + quitare ('to release, discharge'), from quietus ('at rest, free').

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