Have you ever wondered about the definition of acquitted? This guide will provide you with all of the knowledge you need on the word acquitted, including its definition, etymology, example sentences, and more!
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According to Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Language Dictionary, and other dictionary apps, the word acquitted, pronounced “əˈkwɪt’ed” is an adjective that means that someone has been declared not guilty of some crime. This implies that the person was tried for a crime but was found not guilty. This could mean that the jury found reasonable doubt and could not declare the person being tried guilty. This could also imply that there was not enough evidence in the criminal case to find a person guilty. If there is insufficient evidence to find a person guilty in a court of law, it is up to the judge or the jury to acquit the person. Famous cases of acquittal include the impeachment trial of Donald Trump and the O.J. Simpson case, in which all criminal charges were dropped. These people are considered exonerated of their crimes and due to the double jeopardy rule cannot be tried for these same crimes again.
The word acquit is also present in many other languages to describe a person who is not guilty or who has been cleared of their charges in a court of law. The below list of translations is provided by Word Sense.
German: freisprechen, für unschuldig erklären
Swedish: frikänna
Greek: αθωώνω
Japanese: 放免
Persian: تبرئه کردن (tabra’e kardan)
Portuguese: inocentar, absolver
Dutch: vrijspreken
Finnish: vapauttaa (syytteestä)
Russian: опра́вдывать (impf), оправда́ть (pf)
What is the origin of the word acquitted?
According to Etymonilne, the word acquitted comes from the verb acquit. The word acquit has been used since the mid-13th century. This comes from the word acquiten which means to repay, reciprocate, or reward some good deed or bad deed. This has been used since the year 1300 to mean to satisfy a debt. This word comes from the Old French aquiter or Old French acquiter, meaning to settle a claim. This word has existed since the 12th century as the Modern French acquitter, which comes from the prefix a meaning “to” and quite meaning “free or clear.” This comes from the Medieval Latin quitus, or quittus, which comes from the Latin quietus meaning “free.” This word comes from the Proto-Indo-European root kweie meaning to rest or be quiet, and is related to the Medieval Latin acquitare. This word has been sued since the mid 14th century to mean to relieve someone of some obligation or duty or to relieve some accused person of charges. Related words include acquit, acquittal, acquittance, and acquitting.
What are synonyms and antonyms for the word acquitted?
There are many different words and phrases that one can use in place of the word acquitted. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same definition as other words and phrases. Knowing different synonyms are very useful to avoid repeating yourself, or to expand your vocabulary. This list of synonyms for acquitted is provided by Thesaurus.
vindicate
clear
deliver
excuse
exculpate
discharge
wink at
let off the hook
exonerate
absolve
whitewash
release
disculpate
let go
blink at
free
liberate
let off
relieve
wipe off
There are also numerous words and phrases that can act as antonyms to the word acquitted. Antonyms are also very useful to know in order to expand one’s vocabulary and knowledge of the English language and English grammar. This list of antonyms is also provided by Thesaurus.
imprison
pronounce guilty
put away
attaint
send up the river
bring to justice
send up
find guilty
put the screws to
pass sentence on
condemn
declare guilty
rap
doom
throw the book at
sentence
convict
frame
adjudge
How can the word acquitted be used in a sentence?
The word acquitted is often used in legal cases, as well as in many different police or legal drama television shows. This word is usually used in a legal context and is not often seen outside of that. It can also be used when people are referring to a case or crime that they have been following in their personal lives or on the news. In this example, Mattie and Ellen are discussing a case that they have been following in which a man from their town was accused of murder.
Mattie: Did you hear what happened in the case? Huge update!
Ellen: No! What happened?!
Mattie: He got acquitted. All the charges got dropped. I guess the jury didn’t think they had enough evidence or something, but they couldn’t come to an agreement and he;s getting off scot-free.
Ellen: Wow. That’s crazy. I can’t believe it. It’s so obvious that he did it.
Mattie: I feel the same way. And imagine how the victim’s parents and family feel, knowing this criminal is walking free with no punishment at all.
Ellen: It’s truly unbelievable.
In this ciruation, Mattie and Ellen sue the word acquitted to describe that the person who was being charged with murder has been released and had charges dropped.
Overall, the word acquitted is an adjective that describes a person who has been cleared of all criminal charges and is not found guilty for a certain crime. This word implies that the person was either arrested or tried for a crime, but later found not to be guilty There may have been insufficient evidence to find the person guilty, or the jury or judge may have has reasonable doubt that the person did not commit the crime and therefore decides not to find them guilty or sentence them.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.