n.
Pronunciation: ' i-n ə -s ə nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin innocent-, innocens, from in- + nocent-, nocens wicked, from present participle of noc ē re to harm ― more at NOXIOUS
Date: 14th century
1 a : free from guilt or sin especially through lack of knowledge of evil : BLAMELESS <an innocent child> b : harmless in effect or intention <searching for a hidden motive in even the most innocent conversation ― Leonard Wibberley> also : CANDID <gave me an innocent gaze> c : free from legal guilt or fault also : LAWFUL <a wholly innocent transaction>
2 a : lacking or reflecting a lack of sophistication, guile, or self-consciousness : ARTLESS , INGENUOUS b : IGNORANT <almost entirely innocent of Latin ― C. L. Wrenn> also : UNAWARE <perfectly innocent of the confusion he had created ― B. R. Haydon>
3 : lacking or deprived of something <her face innocent of cosmetics ― Marcia Davenport>
– innocent noun
– in · no · cent · ly adverb