acquittal
UK[əˈkwɪt(ə)l]US[əˈkwɪt(ə)l]
n
A formal legal judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime they were accused of.
n
The act of discharging someone from a duty or obligation.
Morpheme Breakdown
ac
quit
tal
ac
to, towards,
quit
free, clear, at rest,
tal
Etymology
The word "acquittal" originates from the Anglo-French legal term acquitel, which itself derives from the Old French aquiter, meaning "to pay, settle, or release." This Old French verb is built from the Latin components ad- ("to") and quietus ("free, at rest"), the past participle of quiescere ("to rest"). The literal sense of "to settle a debt" evolved in legal contexts to signify the act of releasing someone from an accusation, thereby setting them free and at rest from the charges. The suffix "-al" was later appended to form the noun denoting the action or result of being acquitted, completing the journey from a concept of financial clearance to one of judicial exoneration.
Analysis
Structure: ac + quit + tal
- ac: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "to, towards," functioning as an intensifier.
- quit: Latin origin, from quietus meaning "free, clear, at rest," functioning as the core root.
- tal: Latin origin, a suffix forming nouns of action, equivalent to "-ment" or "-ance."
Examples
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, leading to his full acquittal.
The acquittal of the defendant was celebrated by supporters outside the courthouse.
Her acquittal from her contractual duties was granted due to unforeseen circumstances.