acquit的词源

英文词源

acquit

acquit: [13] Acquit is ultimately related to quiet. The Latin noun quies, from which we get quiet, was the basis of a probable verb *quietare, later *quitare, whose original meaning, ‘put to rest’, developed to ‘settle’, as in ‘settle a debt’. With the addition of the prefix ad- this passed into Old French as a(c)quiter, and thence into English (still with the ‘settling or discharging debts’ meaning). The currently most common sense, ‘declare not guilty’, did not appear until the 14th century, and the most recent meaning, ‘conduct oneself in a particular way’, developed from the notion of discharging one’s duties.
=> quiet

acquit (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 a "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.

中文词源

acquit：无罪释放

发音释义：[ə'kwɪt] vt. 无罪释放；表现；脱卸义务和责任；清偿

结构分析：acquit = ac（=ad，去) +quit（清除、清算）→清偿债务→免除责任→无罪释放

词源解释：quit←拉丁语quite（清除、清算）。单词quit的本意是“偿还、免除（债务）”，15世纪时产生“离开”之意， 17世纪时产生“停止（做某事）”之意。现在通常表示“辞职”、“退出”。

同源词：quit（辞职、离开），acquittal（清偿、无罪释放）

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：acquit 词源，acquit 含义。

acquit：宣判无罪

前缀ac-同ad-, 去，往。quit, 离开，词源同quiet。即无罪释放。