innocent

Definition

Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.

Etymology

From Middle English innocent, from Old French innocent, inocent, borrowed from Latin innocēns (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”). By surface analysis, in- (“not”) + nocent (“harmful; guilty”). Displaced native Old English unsċyldiġ.

Example Sentences

• "I'm sure there's an innocent explanation for all this."
• "The situation certainly looked bad, but it turned out that everything was innocent."
• "to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb to appease an angry god"

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