Ae-quit′, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & pp. ACQUITTED; p. pr. & vb. n. ACQUITTING.] [Fr. acquitter, O. Fr. acquitter, aquiter, aquitier, from ue, for ad, and quitter, to forsake, from Lat. quietus, quiet; Pr. aquitare. See QUIT.]
Sense 1. To set free; to release or discharge, especially from an obligation, accusation, guilt, censure, suspicion, or whatever lies upon a person as a charge or duty; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions. It is followed by of before the object; to acquit from is obsolete.
By the suffrage of the most and best, he is already acquitted. Dryden.
Sense 2. Reflexively, to bear or conduct one's self; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.
Synonyms—To absolve; to clear; to pardon; to forgive. See ABSOLVE.