acquittal
(əˈkwɪtəl)
Also 5–6 acquitayle, acquytaylle, 6 acquyghtall, 6–8 acquittall.
[f. acquit v. + -al2. Also in late Anglo-Fr. (Littleton).]
† 1. Payment, repayment, requital, or retribution; an amends, set-off, or counter-consideration. Obs.
| c 1430 Lydg. Minor Poems (1840) 89 To shewe how moche that konnyng may availe; And wey ageynwardes the froward acquitayle. 1440 J. Shirley Dethe of James I (1818) 22 Thay were all takyn, and byhedid at Edynburghe. The Qwene did herselfe grete worship for here trew acquitalle [printed acquitable]. 1547 Heywood Wit & Folly (1846) 5 The sotts pleaseure in this last acquyghtall Counterwayleth his payne. 1749 H. Walpole Lett. to H. Mann 200 (1834) II. 274, I have been long in arrears to you, but I trust you will take this huge letter as an acquittal. |
2. Release or discharge from debt or obligation; = acquittance 2. Obs. exc. in Law.
| 1463 J. Baret in Bury Wills (1850) 42 My executours..shall make a clere declaracion and a trewe accountys yeerly..for here trewe acquytaylle. 1641 Termes de la Ley 9 To acquit and discharge him of all rents, services, and such like: This discharge is called acquitall. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict., Acquittal..signifies in one sense to be free from entries and molestations of a superior lord for services issuing out of lands. 1815 Scott Ld. of Isles iv. xxvii, The ring and spousal contract both, And fair acquittal of his oath. |
† 3. A release, or deliverance, from liability or risk. Cf. acquittance 4. Obs. rare.
| 1618 Bolton Florus iv. ii. 292 Nor was the forbearance of him [Cæsar] an acquitall any longer; for Brutus, and Cassius..conspired to assassinate him. |
4. A setting free, or deliverance from the charge of an offence, by verdict, sentence, or other legal process.
| a 1535 More Wks. 238 (R.) The chaunceler..neuer durst abyde the tryal of xii men for his acquitayle: but was fain by frendship to geat a pardon. 1629 Coke Instit. 100 a, Hereof cometh acquitall, and quietus est, (that is) that hee is discharged. 1772 Junius Lett. Pref. 15 The jury should bring in a verdict of acquittal. 1840 Macaulay Clive 88 The sentence ought to be one, not merely of acquittal, but of approbation. |
5. Discharge (of duty); performance.
| 1656 Milton Lett. State (1851) 344 His own deserts in the diligent acquittal of his trust. 1835 I. Taylor Spirit. Despotism §4. 154 For the acquittal of none of these perplexing duties does a church receive one word of guidance. |