▪ I. acquittance, n.
(əˈkwɪtəns)
Forms: 4 aquitans, acquetaunce, acquitance, 5 aquetons, 4–6 acquitaunce, 6– acquittance.
[a. OFr. aquitance n. of action, f. aquiter. See acquit v. and -ance. Cf. quittance.]
1. The action of settling or satisfying the legal demands of others, the clearing off of debt or obligation; satisfaction, settlement, repayment.
| 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 156 Ten þousand mark & mo, þat now er in balance..I salle bring him to stalle, bot he mak me acquitance. c 1460 Curtasye in Babees Book (1868) 319 Of þe resayuer speke wylle I, Þat fermys resayuys wytturly Of grayuys, and hom aquetons makes. c 1550 Everyman in Hazlitt Dodsley I. 127 Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance, My flesh therewith shall give acquittance. 1769 Junius Lett. xiii. 57 This may be an acquittance of favours upon the turf. |
2. Hence, putting the result (however attained) for the means: The act of releasing from a debt or obligation; release, discharge.
| c 1360 Chaucer A.B.C. 60 And with his blood he wrote that blisfull bill Upon the crosse as generall acquetaunce, To every penitent. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4707 Love it is an hatefulle pees, A free acquitaunce withoute relees. 1528 Perkins Prof. Bk. ii. §148 (1642) 66 If a man bring an Action of debt against me..and I plead against him acquittance. 1574 tr. Littleton, Tenures 31 b, Service by homage auncestrel draweth to hym acquitance, that is to saye, the Lorde oughte to acquite hys tenante against al other lordes above him of everye manner of service. 1627 Feltham Resolves ii. v. Wks. 1677, 168 The whole worlds wealth is a bribe too small to win him [Death] to acquittance. 1672 Marvell Rehearsal Transp. i. 307 If a man be in the Churches debt once, 'tis very hard to get an acquittance. 1848 Mill Pol. Econ. II. 60 Payment in bank-notes is a complete acquittance to the payer. |
3. A writing in evidence of a discharge; a release in writing; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand. Also attrib. as acquittance-roll.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 189 He shulde take þe acquitance as quik·and to þe qued schewe it. 1393 J. Croxton in Test. Eborac. (1836) 186, I will that the same company sele Robyn another generall acquitans, and gif hym xls. 1531 Dial. on Laws of Eng. ii. xlii. 138 (1638) The creditour had taken an acquittance of him without paying him his mony. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 161 Boyet, you can produce acquittances For such a summe. 1684 London Gaz. mdccccxciv. 4 Lost..a File with Writings and Acquittances, supposed to be dropt not far off the Exchange, London. 1727 Arbuthnot Hist. J. Bull 61 The same man bought and sold to himself, paid the money, and gave the acquittance. 1844 Queen's Regul. & Ord. Army 137 An acquittance-roll, containing the names of the Men of each Troop, or Company, and showing the debts and credits, with the Signature of each Man. 1852 M{supc}Culloch Taxation ii. vi. 294 (ed. 2) The tax on receipts, or acquittances for money, was introduced into this country in 1783. |
† 4. Deliverance, release (from danger or trouble). Cf. acquittal 3. Obs. rare.
| 1610 Healey St. Aug., City of God viii. xvi. 307 That perfection..that is promised vs after our acquittance from mortalitie. 1621–31 Laud Serm. (1847) 55 Neither of these elements [fire and water] have any mercy, but the ‘mercy of the Highest’ was his acquittance from both. |
5. Exoneration from a charge; remission of offences; discharge. = acquittal 4. rare.
| 1612 T. Taylor Titus iii. 3 (1619) 608 They rest herein as a sufficient acquittance from all their vnrighteousnes. 1783 Burke Sp. on Fox's E. Ind. Bill Wks. 1842 I. 286 They gave him a full and complete acquittance from all charges of rebellion. 1860 C. Innes Scotl. in Mid. Ages 193 Purgation and acquittance according to ancient law. |
6. Discharge (of a duty); = acquittal 4. rare.
| 1865 W. G. Palgrave Centr. Arabia I. 225 The precise exactitude required in the acquittance of religious duties. |
▪ II. † aˈcquittance, v. Obs. rare.
[f. the n. Cf. to receipt an account, to pension, etc.]
trans. To give an acquittance or discharge; to discharge.
| 1464 Marg. Paston in Past. Lett. 490 II. 159 The sewtys wer wythdrawyn on bothe partyes, and iche of hem aquytauncyd othyr. 1590 Greene Neuer too late (1600) 3 Nor am [I] a Pilgrime to acquittance sinne with penance. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iii. vii. 233 Your meere enforcement shall acquittance me From all the impure blots and staynes thereof. |