ac·quit /ə-'kwit/ vb ac·quit·ted, ac·quit·ting [Old French acquiter to pay off, absolve, acquit, from a-, prefix marking causation + quite free (of an obligation)]
vt: to discharge completely: as
a: to release from liability for a debt or other obligation
— usu. used in agreements
forever release, acquit, and discharge each other
b: to absolve (a criminal defendant) of a charge by judicial process
c: to clear of wrongdoing
the fact...does not acquit them of misrepresentation — In re Hiller, 694 P.2d 540 (1985)
vi: to absolve a defendant of criminal liability
must acquit if any reasonable doubt existed — Commonwealth v. Gagliardi, 638 N.E.2d 20 (1994) compare convict
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.