— innocently , adv.
/in"euh seuhnt/ , adj.
1. free from moral wrong; without sin; pure: innocent children.
2. free from legal or specific wrong; guiltless: innocent of the crime.
3. not involving evil intent or motive: an innocent misrepresentation.
4. not causing physical or moral injury; harmless: innocent fun.
5. devoid (usually fol. by of ): a law innocent of merit.
6. having or showing the simplicity or naiveté of an unworldly person; guileless; ingenuous.
7. uninformed or unaware; ignorant.
n.
8. an innocent person.
9. a young child.
10. a guileless person.
11. a simpleton or idiot.
12. Usually, innocents . ( used with a sing. v. ) bluet (def. 1).
[ 1150-1200; ME innocent- (s. of innocens ) harmless, equiv. to in- IN- 3 + nocens prp. of nocere to harm; see -ENT; cf. NOXIOUS ]
Syn. 1. sinless, virtuous; faultless, impeccable, spotless, immaculate. 2. INNOCENT, BLAMELESS, GUILTLESS imply freedom from the responsibility of having done wrong. INNOCENT may imply having done no wrong at any time, and having not even a knowledge of evil: an innocent victim. BLAMELESS denotes freedom from blame, esp. moral blame: a blameless life. GUILTLESS denotes freedom from guilt or responsibility for wrongdoing, usually in a particular instance: guiltless of a crime. 6. simple, naive, unsophisticated, artless.
Ant. 1, 2. guilty.