acquittal
UK: əˈkwɪt(ə)l | US: əˈkwɪt(ə)l
n. a legal judgment that officially declares someone not guilty of a crime
n. the act of discharging or releasing someone from a duty or obligation
acquittal = acquit<to free> + tal<noun suffix>
- acquit: From Old French acquiter ("to pay, settle"), derived from Latin ad- (to) + quietare (to quiet, set free). In legal context, it evolved to mean "to declare innocent."
- tal: A noun-forming suffix of Germanic origin, often used to denote actions or results (e.g., arrival, refusal).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin quietare ("to calm or free"), combined with the prefix ad- (toward). In medieval legal practice, acquit emerged in Old French as acquiter, meaning "to settle a debt" or "release from blame." Over time, the suffix -tal was added to form the noun acquittal, specifically denoting the legal act of clearing someone of charges. The logic reflects a progression from financial discharge ("freeing from debt") to moral/legal exoneration.
The jury reached a verdict of acquittal due to insufficient evidence.
His acquittal brought relief to his family after years of legal battles.
The judge emphasized that acquittal does not always imply innocence.
Celebrations erupted outside the courthouse following the high-profile acquittal.
The prosecutor expressed disappointment at the defendant’s acquittal.