Acquit
Webster's Dictionary [1]
(1): (v. t.) To clear one's self.
(2): (v. t.) To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty, liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; - now followed by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.
(3): (v. t.) To bear or conduct one's self; to perform one's part; as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.
(4): (v. t.) To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to requite.
(5): (p. p.) Acquitted; set free; rid of.
(6): (v. t.) To pay for; to atone for.
King James Dictionary [2]
To set free to release or discharge from an obligation, accusation, guilt, censure, suspicion, or whatever lies upon a person as a charge or duty as, the jury acquitted the prisoner we acquit a man of evil intentions. It is followed by of before the object to acquit from is obsolete. In a reciprocal sense, as, the soldier acquitted himself well in battle, the word has a like sense, implying the discharge of a duty or obligation. Hence its use in expressing excellence in performance as the orator acquitted himself well, that is, in a manner that his situation and public expectation demanded.
