exculpate

Definition

To clear of or to free from guilt; exonerate.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin exculpātus, perfect passive participle of exculpō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out, from”) + culpa (“fault; blame”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

Example Sentences

• "1896, Edward Manson, J. S. Henderson (editors), Reports of Cases in Bankruptcy and Companies' Winding-Up, Volume 3, Sweet & Maxwell, page 72, When one comes to look at subsection 7, it is quite clear that the Court can only allow expenses to a person ordered to attend for examination if in the opinion of the Court he is exculpated from any of the charges made or suggested against him."
• "The inquest on keeper Davidson was duly held, and at the commencement seemed likely to cause Tony Palliser less anxiety than he had expected. Northrop knew all about Tony's flirtation with Lucy Davidson, but it also knew a good deal more about that lady than Tony did, and exculpated him."
• "Only a handful of defendants who are ignorant of the law succeed in exculpating themselves on either of the grounds discussed in Part B.[…]In the examples to which I will refer, defendants who make mistakes of law are exculpated by denying mens rea—the mechanism I described in Part C through which all defendants are exculpated when they plead ignorance of fact."

Related Words