Etymology

acquittal

ac·qui·tal
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Today it means: The act of fulfilling the duties (of a given role, obligation etc.). Full definition →

First used 15th c.Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? ← English acquit
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The story

  1. Englishacquit
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  4. English todayacquittal

From acquit + -al.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. The act of fulfilling the duties (of a given role, obligation etc.).
  • from 15th c. A legal decision that someone is not guilty with which they have been charged, or the formal dismissal of a charge by some other legal process.
  • from 15th c. Payment of a debt or other obligation; reparations, amends.
  • from 15th c. The act of releasing someone from debt or other obligation; acquittance.
  • from 17th c. Avoidance of danger; deliverance.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.