acquit: [13] Acquit is ultimately related to quiet. The Latin noun quies, from which we get quiet, was the basis of a probable verb *quietare, later *quitare, whose original meaning, ‘put to rest’, developed to ‘settle’, as in ‘settle a debt’. With the addition of the prefix ad- this passed into Old French as a(c)quiter, and thence into English (still with the ‘settling or discharging debts’ meaning). The currently most common sense, ‘declare not guilty’, did not appear until the 14th century, and the most recent meaning, ‘conduct oneself in a particular way’, developed from the notion of discharging one’s duties. => quiet
acquit (v.)
early 13c., "to satisfy a debt" (either for oneself or on behalf of another), from Old French aquiter "pay, pay up, settle a claim" (12c.), from a "to" (see ad-) + quite "free, clear" (see quit (adj.)). Meanings "set free from charges" and "to discharge one's duty" both recorded from late 14c. Related: Acquitted; acquitting.
雙語例句
1. I do not pretend tha t my protestations should acquit me.
我并不自稱我的辯護(hù)一定能使自己無罪獲釋.
來自辭典例句
2. I acquit Edward of all essential misconduct.
我原諒愛德華的所有根本過錯.
來自辭典例句
3. That fact decided the judge to acquit him.
那個事實使法官判他無罪.
來自辭典例句
4. I felt a considerable extension of power and authority, and was anxious to acquit myself creditably.