Also 5–6 acquitayle, acquytaylle, 6 acquyghtall, 6–8 acquittall. [f. ACQUIT v. + -AL 2. Also in late Anglo-Fr. (Littleton).]
† 1. Payment, repayment, requital or retribution; an amends, set-off or counter-consideration. Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Minor Poems (1840), 89. To shewe how moche that konnyng may availe; And wey ageynwardes the froward acquitayle.
1440. J. Shirley, Dethe of James, I. (1818), 22. Thay were all takyn, and byhedid at Edynburghe. The Qwene did herselfe grete worship for here trew acquitalle [printed acquitable].
1547. Heywood, Wit & Folly (1846), 5. The sotts pleaseure in this last acquyghtall Counterwayleth his payne.
1749. H. Walpole, Lett. to H. Mann, 200 (1834), II. 274. I have been long in arrears to you, but I trust you will take this huge letter as an acquittal.
2. Release or discharge from debt or obligation; = ACQUITTANCE 2. Obs. exc. in Law.
1463. J. Baret, in Bury Wills (1850), 42. My executours … shall make a clere declaracion and a trewe accountys yeerly … for here trewe acquytaylle.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 9. To acquit and discharge him of all rents, services, and such like: This discharge is called acquitall.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., Acquittal … signifies in one sense to be free from entries and molestations of a superior lord for services issuing out of lands.
1815. Scott, Ld. of Isles, IV. xxvii. The ring and spousal contract both, And fair acquittal of his oath.
† 3. A release, or deliverance, from liability or risk. Cf. ACQUITTANCE 4. Obs. rare.
1618. Bolton, Florus, IV. ii. 292. Nor was the forbearance of him [Cæsar] an acquitall any longer; for Brutus, and Cassius … conspired to assassinate him.
4. A setting free, or deliverance from the charge of an offence, by verdict, sentence, or other legal process.
a. 1535. More, Wks., 238 (R.). The chaunceler … neuer durst abyde the tryal of xii men for his acquitayle: but was fain by frendship to geat a pardon.
1629. Coke, Instit., 100 a. Hereof cometh acquitall, and quietus est, (that is) that hee is discharged.
1772. Junius Lett., Pref. 15. The jury should bring in a verdict of acquittal.
1840. Macaulay, Clive, 88. The sentence ought to be one, not merely of acquittal, but approbation.
5. Discharge (of duty); performance.
1656. Milton, Lett. of State (1851), 344. His own deserts in the diligent acquittal of his trust.
1835. I. Taylor, Spirit. Despotism, § 4. 154. For the acquittal of none of these perplexing duties does a church receive one word of guidance.
