Forms: 4 aquitans, acquetaunce, acquitance, 5 aquetons, 4–6 acquitaunce, 6– acquittance. [a. OFr. aquitance n. of action, f. aquiter. See ACQUIT v. and -ANCE. Cf. QUITTANCE.]
1. The action of settling or satisfying the legal demands of others, the clearing off of debt or obligation; satisfaction, settlement, repayment.
1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 156. Ten þousand mark & mo, þat now er in balance … I salle bring him to stalle, bot he mak me acquitance.
c. 1460. Curtasye, in Babees Book (1868), 319. Of þe resayuer speke wylle I, Þat fermys resayuys wytturly Of grayuys, and hom aquetons makes.
c. 1550. Everyman, in Hazl., Dodsl., I. 127. Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance, My flesh therewith shall give acquittance.
1769. Junius Lett., xiii. 57. This may be an acquittance of favours upon the turf.
2. Hence, putting the result (however attained) for the means: The act of releasing from a debt or obligation; release, discharge.
c. 1360. Chaucer, A. B. C., 60. And with his blood he wrote that blisfull bill Upon the crosse as generall acquetaunce, To every penitent.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4707. Love it is an hatefulle pces, A free acquitaunce withoute relees.
1528. Perkins, Prof. Bk., ii. § 148 (1642), 66. If a man bring an Action of debt against me … and I plead against him acquittance.
1574. trans. Littleton, Tenures, 31 b. Service by homage auncestrel draweth to hym acquitance, that is to saye, the Lorde oughte to acquite hys tenante against al other lordes above him of everye manner of service.
1627. Feltham, Resolves, II. v. Wks. 1677, 168. The whole worlds wealth is a bribe too small to win him [Death] to acquittance.
1672. Marvell, Rehearsal Transp., I. 307. If a man be in the Churches debt once, ’tis very hard to get an acquittance.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., II. 60. Payment in bank-notes is a complete acquittance to the payer.
3. A writing in evidence of a discharge; a release in writing; a receipt in full, which bars a further demand. Also attrib. as acquittance-roll.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 189. He shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it.
1393. J. Croxton, in Test. Eborac. (1836), 186. I will that the same company sele Robyn another generall acquitans, and gif hym xls.
1531. Dial. on Laws of Eng., II. xlii. 138 (1638). The creditour had taken an acquittance of him without paying him his mony.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 161. Boyet, you can produce acquittances For such a summe.
1684. London Gaz., mdccccxciv. 4. Lost … a File with Writings and Acquittances, supposed to be dropt not far off the Exchange, London.
1727. Arbuthnot, Hist. J. Bull, 61. The same man bought and sold to himself, paid the money, and gave the acquittance.
1844. Queen’s Regul. & Ord. Army, 137. An acquittance-roll, containing the names of the Men of each Troop, or Company, and showing the debts and credits, with the Signature of each Man.
1852. McCulloch, Taxation, II. vi. 294 (ed. 2). The tax on receipts, or acquittances for money, was introduced into this country in 1783.
† 4. Deliverance, release (from danger or trouble). Cf. ACQUITTAL 3. Obs. rare.
1610. Healey, St. Aug., City of God, VIII. xvi. 307. That perfection … that is promised vs after our acquittance from mortalitie.
1621–31. Laud, Serm. (1847), 55. Neither of these elements [fire and water] have any mercy, but the ‘mercy of the Highest’ was his acquittance from both.
5. Exoneration from a charge; remission of offenses; discharge. = ACQUITTAL 4. rare.
1612. T. Taylor, Titus iii. 3 (1619), 608. They rest herein as a sufficient acquittance from all their vnrighteousnes.
1783. Burke, Sp. on Fox’s E. Ind. Bill, Wks. 1842, I. 286. They gave him a full and complete acquittance from all charges of rebellion.
1860. C. Innes, Scotl. in Mid. Ages, 193. Purgation and acquittance according to ancient law.
6. Discharge (of a duty); = ACQUITTAL 4. rare.
1865. W. G. Palgrave, Centr. Arabia, I. 225. The precise exactitude required in the acquittance of religious duties.
