There are 24,600 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Aquit'. 'Aquit' ranks in the top 190 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 7 websites containing this mistake.¹
The word 'acquit' is primarily a verb. It means to free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty. It can also mean to conduct oneself in a specified way.
Acquit
The word 'acquit' originates from the Middle English term 'acquiten', which comes from the Anglo-French 'acquiter', meaning to discharge or free. This, in turn, is derived from the Latin 'acquitare', which combines 'ad-' (to) and 'quietare' (set free, release), from 'quietus', meaning free or at rest.
The word 'acquit' is pronounced as /əˈkwɪt/. It sounds like "uh-kwit."
The word 'acquit' can be used in a sentence like this: "The jury decided to acquit the defendant of all charges after examining the evidence." It is important to ensure the correct spelling of 'acquit,' as it is often confused with 'acquit' and 'acquittal,' and to use it in the appropriate legal context, indicating a formal declaration of innocence rather than a casual dismissal of guilt.