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acquittance. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
acquittance, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
acquittance in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
acquittance you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman acquitance, Middle French aquitance, from acquiter (“to acquit”). Compare later acquittal.
Pronunciation
Noun
acquittance (countable and uncountable, plural acquittances)
- (now historical) A writing which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand.
c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :You can produce acquittances / For such a sum, from special officers.
- (now rare) Payment of debt; settlement.
- (now historical) The release from a debt, or from some obligation or duty; exemption.
- (obsolete) The dismissal of a legal charge against someone; acquittal.
1791, Ann Radcliffe, The Romance of the Forest, Oxford, published 1999, page 82:This was a task more difficult than that of self acquittance.
- (now rare) The acquittal of one's duties; the carrying out of fulfilment of a job or role.
Verb
acquittance (third-person singular simple present acquittances, present participle acquittancing, simple past and past participle acquittanced)
- (transitive, obsolete) To acquit.
References