/ əˈkwɪt; NAmE / verb ( -tt- ) [ vn ]
1.
acquit sb (of sth) to decide and state officially in court that sb is not guilty of a crime :
The jury acquitted him of murder.
OPP convict
2.
acquit yourself well, badly, etc. ( formal ) to perform or behave well, badly, etc. :
He acquitted himself brilliantly in the exams.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally in the sense pay a debt, discharge a liability ): from Old French acquiter , from medieval Latin acquitare pay a debt, from ad- to + quitare set free.