exculpate

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • v exculpate pronounce not guilty of criminal charges "The suspect was cleared of the murder charges"
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • v. t Exculpate To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit. "He exculpated himself from being the author of the heroic epistle.""I exculpate him further for his writing against me."
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • exculpate To clear from a charge or imputation of fault or guilt; vindicate from an accusation of wrong-doing.
    • exculpate Serve to relieve of or free from blame; serve as an excuse for. Synonyms To exonerate, acquit, absolve, pardon, justify.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • v.t Exculpate eks-kul′pāt to clear from the charge of a fault or crime: to absolve: to vindicate
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Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. ex, out + culpatus, p. p. of culpare, to find fault with, to blame, culpa, fault. See Culpable
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
L. ex, from, culpa, a fault.

Usage

In literature:

He would voluntarily exculpate himself by his oath.
"The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. VIII. (of 12)" by Edmund Burke
This might be said in his exculpation.
"The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. X. (of 12)" by Edmund Burke
He hath no word either of exculpation, denial, or assent from me.
"The Days of Bruce Vol 1" by Grace Aguilar
But some stern sense of justice derided her efforts to exculpate herself.
"Suzanna Stirs the Fire" by Emily Calvin Blake
Mademoiselle de la Valliere," said the king, bitterly, "I prefer those persons who exculpate themselves without incriminating others.
"The Vicomte de Bragelonne" by Alexandre Dumas
And then I attempted to exculpate myself: I could not prove that the things were stolen.
"Poor Jack" by Frederick Marryat
While Bacchis is exculpating herself, Myrrhina, the mother of the injured girl, by chance recognizes the ring.
"The Comedies of Terence" by Publius Terentius Afer, (AKA) Terence
Such action might hamper the London bureau and hasten a crisis exculpating the Laniers.
"Oswald Langdon" by Carson Jay Lee
This exculpation bodes some fault, I'm sure.
"The Comedies of Terence" by Publius Terentius Afer
I cannot exculpate any commercial nation from this sweeping censure.
"Captain Canot" by Brantz Mayer
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Related words