All 4 Uses of
acquit
in
Frankenstein
- Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration.
Chpt Intr. (definition 1) *acquitted = handled
- She is to be tried today, and I hope, I sincerely hope, that she will be acquitted.
Chpt 7 (definition 2) *acquitted = officially found "not guilty"
- "She is innocent, my Elizabeth," said I, "and that shall be proved; fear nothing, but let your spirits be cheered by the assurance of her acquittal."
Chpt 7 (definition 2)acquittal = official finding of "not guilty"
- But I do not pretend that my protestations should acquit me; I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me, and I hope the character I have always borne will incline my judges to a favourable interpretation where any circumstance appears doubtful or suspicious.
Chpt 8 (definition 2)acquit = prove innocent (informal usage)
Definitions:
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(1) (acquit as in: she acquitted herself well) to handle oneself in a specified way -- which is typically in a positive way
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(2) (acquit as in: she was acquitted) to officially find "not guilty" of criminal chargeseditor'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.