Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Innocent
In′no-cent
,Adj.
[F.
innocent
, L. innocens
, -entis
; pref. in-
not + nocens
, p. pr. of nocere
to harm, hurt. See Noxious
.] 1.
Not harmful; free from that which can injure; innoxious; innocuous; harmless;
as, an
. innocent
medicine or remedyThe spear
Sung
Sung
innocent
, and spent its force in air. Pope.
2.
Morally free from guilt; guiltless; not tainted with sin; pure; upright.
To offer up a weak, poor,
innocent
lamb. Shakespeare
I have sinned in that I have betrayed the
innocent
blood. Matt. xxvii. 4.
The aidless,
innocent
lady, his wished prey. Milton.
3.
Free from the guilt of a particular crime or offense;
as, a man is
. innocent
of the crime chargedInnocent
from the great transgression. Ps. xix. 13.
4.
Simple; artless; foolish.
Shak.
5.
Lawful; permitted;
as, an
. innocent
trade6.
Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture;
as,
. innocent
goods carried to a belligerent nation
Syn. – Harmless; innoxious; innoffensive; guiltless; spotless; immaculate; pure; unblamable; blameless; faultless; guileless; upright.
In′no-cent
,Noun.
1.
An innocent person; one free from, or unacquainted with, guilt or sin.
Shak.
2.
An unsophisticated person; hence, a child; a simpleton; an idiot.
B. Jonson.
In Scotland a natural fool was called an
innocent
. Sir W. Scott.
Innocents’ day
(Eccl.)
, Childermas day.
Webster 1828 Edition
Innocent
IN'NOCENT
,Adj.
1.
Properly, not noxious; not producing injury; free from qualities that can injure; harmless; innoxious; as an innocent medicine or remedy.2.
Free from guilt; not having done wrong or violated any law; not tainted with sin; pure; upright. In this general sense, no human being that is a moral agent, can be innocent. It is followed by of.3.
Free from the guilt of a particular crime or evil action; as, a man is innocent of the crime charged in the indictment.4.
Lawful; permitted; as an innocent trade.5.
Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture; as innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation.IN'NOCENT
,Noun.
1.
A natural; an idiot. [Unusual.]Definition 2024
innocent
innocent
English
Adjective
innocent (comparative more innocent, superlative most innocent)
- Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.
- 1606, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, IV. iii. 16:
- to offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb
- 1606, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, IV. iii. 16:
- Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
- Naive; artless.
- 1600, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, V. ii. 37:
- I can find out no rhyme to / 'lady' but 'baby' – an innocent rhyme;
- 1600, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, V. ii. 37:
- (obsolete) Not harmful; innocuous; harmless.
- an innocent medicine or remedy
- Alexander Pope
- The spear / Sung innocent, and spent its force in air.
- (with of) Having no knowledge (of something).
- (with of) Lacking (something).
- Lawful; permitted.
- an innocent trade
- Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture.
- innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation
Synonyms
- (free from blame or guilt): sackless
- (free from sin): pure, untainted
- (naive): See also Wikisaurus:naive
Antonyms
Related terms
Translations
pure, free from sin, untainted
|
not legally responsible for a wrongful act
|
naive, artless
harmless in intent
Noun
innocent (plural innocents)
- Those who are innocent; young children.
- The slaughter of the innocents was a significant event in the New Testament.
Catalan
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin innocens, innocentem (“harmless, inoffensive”).
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ent
Adjective
innocent m, f (masculine and feminine plural innocents)
Derived terms
Related terms
- innocència
- innocentada
See also
-
El dia dels innocents on the Catalan Wikipedia.Wikipedia ca
French
Etymology
From Old French inocent, borrowed from Latin innocens, innocentem (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /i.nɔ.sɑ̃/
Adjective
innocent m (feminine singular innocente, masculine plural innocents, feminine plural innocentes)
- innocent