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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 remedy
.
The spear
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 charged
.
Innocent
from the great transgression.
Ps. xix. 13.
4.
Simple; artless; foolish.
Shak.
5.
Lawful; permitted;
as, an
innocent
trade
.
6.
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.
[L.innocens.]
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.
One free from guilt or harm.
1.
A natural; an idiot. [Unusual.]

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