All 8 Uses of

acquit

in

Mansfield Park

After all that I said to her as we came along, I thought she would have behaved better; I told her how much might depend upon her acquitting herself well at first.
Chpt 2 (definition 1) *

acquitting = handling (in the specified way)

I do not pretend to know which was most to blame in their disagreements, though the Admiral's present conduct might incline one to the side of his wife; but it is natural and amiable that Miss Crawford should acquit her aunt entirely.
Chpt 7 (definition 2) *

acquit = find blameless

Her heart and her judgment were equally against Edmund's decision: she could not acquit his unsteadiness, and his happiness under it made her wretched.
Chpt 17 (definition 2)

I have never seen Fanny dance since she was a little girl; but I trust we shall both think she acquits herself like a gentlewoman when we do see her, which, perhaps, we may have an opportunity of doing ere long.
Chpt 25 (definition 1)

acquits = handles (conducts or behaves)

You do not owe me the duty of a child. But, Fanny, if your heart can acquit you of ingratitude—
Chpt 32 (definition 2)

acquit = find blameless

She could not but own that she should be very glad of a little tea, and Susan immediately set about making it, as if pleased to have the employment all to herself; and with only a little unnecessary bustle, and some few injudicious attempts at keeping her brothers in better order than she could, acquitted herself very well.
Chpt 38 (definition 1)

acquitted = handled (conducted or behaved)

Uses with a very rare meaning:

Fanny's disposition was such that she could never even think of her aunt Norris in the meagreness and cheerlessness of her own small house, without reproaching herself for some little want of attention to her when they had been last together; much less could her feelings acquit her of having done and said and thought everything by William that was due to him for a whole fortnight.
Chpt 29 (definition 3)

acquit = believe to have done a duty properly

Mr. Crawford would have fully acquitted her conduct in refusing him; but this, though most material to herself, would be poor consolation to Sir Thomas.
Chpt 47 (definition 3) *

acquitted = performed a responsibility adequately

Definitions:

(1) (acquit as in: she acquitted herself well)
to handle oneself in a specified way -- which is typically in a positive way

(2) (acquit as in: she was acquitted)
to officially find "not guilty" of criminal charges

editor's notes: Note that to be acquitted is not the same as being declared innocent of an offense due to the presumption of innocence in the American judicial system. The court determines if there is sufficient evidence to find someone guilty. Some crimes require a lot of evidence for a conviction, so while there may not be enough evidence to declare someone guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt, there also may not be enough evidence to declare a defendant innocent except through the presumption of innocence.

(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
Much less commonly and archaically, acquit can have other meanings. It can mean to release from a duty, as when Jane Austen wrote "I cannot acquit him of that duty" in her novel, Pride and Prejudice.

It can also mean to perform or complete an obligation, as when Charles Dickens wrote "I have a business charge to acquit myself of," in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities.