acquit

ac·quit

verb \ə-ˈkwit\

ac·quit·tedac·quit·ting

Definition of ACQUIT

transitive verb

1

a archaic : to pay off (as a claim or debt) b obsolete : repay, requite

2

: to discharge completely (as from an obligation or accusation) <the court acquitted the prisoner>

3

: to conduct (oneself) usually satisfactorily especially under stress <the recruits acquitted themselves like veterans>

— ac·quit·ter noun

Examples of ACQUIT

1. The jury acquitted the defendant because there wasn't enough evidence to convict him of the crime.
2. <acquitted of the robbery charge after proving he was nowhere near the scene of the crime>

Origin of ACQUIT

Middle English aquiten, from Anglo-French aquiter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + quite free of — more at quit

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ACQUIT

Synonyms: absolve, exculpate, clear, exonerate, vindicate

Antonyms: criminate, incriminate

Related Words: atone (for), expiate; discharge, liberate, redeem, release, unburden; condone, excuse, whitewash; forgive, pardon, remit; avenge, redress, revenge

Near Antonyms: accuse, arraign, charge, impeach, indict; convict

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at behave, exculpate

Rhymes with ACQUIT

a bit, admit, armpit, backfit, base hit, befit, bowsprit, bushtit, catch it, cesspit, close-knit, cockpit, commit, cool it, culprit, cut it, demit, dimwit, dog it, do it, emit, firelit, fleapit, gaslit, get it, gill slit, godwit, hack it, half-wit, hard-hit, henbit, house-sit, legit, lit crit, make it, mess kit, misfit, mishit, moonlit, mosh pit, nitwit, no-hit, obit, omit, outfit, outwit, owe it, peewit, permit, pinch-hit, Prakrit, press kit, pulpit, refit, remit, rough it, sandpit, Sanskrit, scratch hit, snakebit, snake pit, starlit, stock split, submit, sunlit, switch-hit, tar pit, tidbit, tight-knit, tomtit, to wit, transmit, turnspit, twilit, two-bit, unfit, unknit, warp knit, watch it, weft knit, well-knit