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Webster 1913 Edition


Exonerate

Ex-on′er-ate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Exonerated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Exonerating
.]
[L.
exoneratus
, p. p. of
exonerare
to free from a burden;
ex
out, from
onerare
to load,
onus
load. See
Onerous
.]
1.
To unload; to disburden; to discharge.
[Obs.]
All
exonerate
themselves into one common duct.
Ray.
2.
To relieve, in a moral sense, as of a charge, obligation, or load of blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon oppresses one, as an accusation or imputation;
as, to
exonerate
one’s self from blame, or from the charge of avarice
.
Burke.
Syn. – To absolve; acquit; exculpate. See
Absolve
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Exonerate

EXON'ERATE

,
Verb.
T.
egzon'erate. [L. exonero; ex and onero, to load, onus, a load.]
1.
To unload; to disburden.
The vessels exonerate themselves into a common duct.
But more generally, in a figurative sense.
2.
To cast off, as a charge or as blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon the character as an imputation; as, to exonerate one's self from blame, or from the charge of avarice.
3.
To cast off, as an obligation, debt or duty; to discharge of responsibility or liability; as, a surety exonerates himself by producing a man in court.