What is "acquitting"

Acquit \Ac*quit"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquitting.] [OE. aquiten, OF. aquiter, F. acquitter; ? (L. ad) + OF. quiter, F. quitter, to quit. See Quit, and cf. Acquiet.]

1. To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to requite.

   A responsibility that can never be absolutely acquitted.
   --I. Taylor.

2. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.]
   --Shak.

3. To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; -- now followed by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.

4. Reflexively:

   1. To clear one's self.
      --Shak.

   2. To bear or conduct one's self; to perform one's part; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.

      Syn: To absolve; clear; exonerate; exonerate; exculpate; release; discharge. See Absolve.

vb. (present participle of acquit English)

1. v. pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; "The suspect was cleared of the murder charges" [syn: assoil, clear, discharge, exonerate, exculpate] [ant: convict]

2. behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well during these difficult times" [syn: behave, bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry]

3. [also: acquitting, acquitted]

See acquit