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to relieve from a charge of fault or crime; declare not guilty:
they acquitted him of the crime. the jury acquitted her, but i still think she’s guilty.
to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.
to settle or satisfy (a debt, obligation, claim, etc.).
to bear or conduct (oneself); behave:
he acquitted himself well in battle.
to free or clear (oneself):
he acquitted himself of suspicion.
contemporary examples

in march of this year, a jury here took just 45 minutes to acquit tiller of charges that he performed 19 illegal abortions.
a murder in wichita joe stumpe may 31, 2009

she and many others believed that tuesday, when the court ruled to acquit all 13 defendants, was that day.
argentina erupts over acquittal in marita verón case scott c. johnson december 13, 2012

and it shows they were almost unanimously inclined to acquit right from jump.
casey jury brainwash marcia clark july 7, 2011

both trials ended in mistrials, with all of the white jurors voting to convict and all of the black jurors voting to acquit.
curtis flowers: mississippi’s marked man paul alexander june 28, 2013

but based on the testimony, the evidence and the language of the law, it would have been hard for me to vote to acquit.
if p-rn isn’t art, does it still have a right to exist? michael stabile may 1, 2012

historical examples

it is not certain that a lad who does not acquit himself very well in this exercise at first, will not make a good orator at last.
the bobbin boy william m. thayer

in this way, and in this way only, he may acquit himself and free others from the work of legislation.
laws plato

finchden, j. puts the case of parceners making part-tion, and one covenanting with the other to acquit of suit.
the common law oliver wendell holmes, jr.

don’t forget that if you acquit him, you’ll be sorely puzzled to convict the other.’
maurice tiernay soldier of fortune charles james lever

in possession of the needed sum for the ransom, he only asked to acquit himself honestly.
the iron trevet or jocelyn the champion eugne sue

verb (transitive) -quits, -quitting, -quitted
(foll by of)

to free or release (from a charge of crime)
to pr-nounce not guilty

(foll by of) to free or relieve (from an obligation, duty, responsibility, etc)
to repay or settle (something, such as a debt or obligation)
to perform (one’s part); conduct (oneself)
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 à “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.