noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A writing which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand. countable, historical, uncountable

   "You can produce acquittances / For such a sum, from special officers."

2. 2
   a legal document evidencing the discharge of a debt or obligation wordnet
3. 3
   Payment of debt; settlement. archaic, countable, uncountable
4. 4
   The release from a debt, or from some obligation or duty; exemption. countable, historical, uncountable
5. 5
   The dismissal of a legal charge against someone; acquittal. countable, obsolete, uncountable

   "This was a task more difficult than that of self acquittance."

Show 1 more definition

6. 6
   The acquittal of one's duties; the carrying out of fulfilment of a job or role. archaic, countable, uncountable

Verb

1. 1
   To acquit. obsolete, transitive

Synonyms

All synonyms

absolutionaccordanceacknowledgmentacquittaladherenceamortization

Example

More examples

"You can produce acquittances / For such a sum, from special officers."

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman acquitance, Middle French aquitance, from acquiter (“to acquit”). Compare later acquittal.

Related phrases

clear off

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.