Innocent

a. [Lat. innocens, from prefix in, not, and nocens, p. pr. of nocere, to harm, hurt; Fr. & Pr. innocent, Sp. inocente, It. innocente.] 1. Not harmful; free from that which can injure; innoxious; innocuous; harmless; as, an innocent medicine or remedy. The spear Sung innocent, and spent its force in air. Pope.

2. Free from guilt; not having done wrong; not tainted with sin; pure; upright. “To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb.” Shak. “The aidless innocent lady, his wished prey.” Milton.
3. Free from the guilt of a particular crime or evil action; as, a man is innocent of the crime charged in the indictment.
4. Lawful; permitted; as, an innocent trade.
5. Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture; as, innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation.
6. Ignorant; imbecile; idiotic. [Obs.]

Syn.—Harmless; innoxious; inoffensive; guiltless; spotless; immaculate; pure; unblamable; blameless; faultless; guileless; upright.

1. An innocent person; one free from guilt or harm. Shak.
2. An ignorant person; hence, a natural; an idiot; a dolt; a simpleton.

In Scotland a natural fool was called an innocent. W. Scott. Innocents' day (Eccl.), the twenty-eighth day of December, sometimes observed as a festival day in commemoration of the slaughter of the infants by Herod.