disculpatev.
/ˈdɪskʌlpeɪt/, U.S. /ˈdɪskəlˌpeɪt/ transitive. To absolve from blame; to exonerate, exculpate. Frequently reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > justification > justify [verb (transitive)] > exculpate
cleansea1000
skere?c1225
unwreea1250
spurge1303
sunyiea1325
disblamec1374
quita1400
whitena1400
emplasterc1405
declare1460
clear1481
absolve1496
purgea1530
free1560
clenge1592
disculp1602
uncharge1604
exonerate1655
exculpate1656
wash1659
excriminate1661
to wipe the mouth of1687
disculpate1693
whitewash1703
rehabilitate1847
1693 W. Bates Serm. Several Occasions vii. 249 [Satan's] prevailing Temptations do not disculpate Sinners that yield to them.
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 25 Being faithful and just, with the Testimony of Things to disculpate him.
1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 122 The authors of the Chronicle of Croyland..charge him directly with none of the crimes, since imputed to him, and disculpate him of others.
1814 Courier 12 Sept. This last condition disculpates rulers from any deserved reproach of immorality and cruelty.
1880 ‘V. Lee’ Stud. 18th Cent. Italy iv. iv. 173 The hero accused of regicide..and unable to disculpate himself.
1906 Washington Post 13 July 3/4 The court..completely disculpates Dreyfus of all wrongdoing.
1921 Engin. & Mining Jrnl. 6 Aug. 205/1 We do not attempt to disculpate ourselves in saying your malignment of Senator Fall's liberality is praise indeed.
2001 Mod. Lang. Rev. 96 971 The very gesture through which he disculpated himself in the eyes of Rosemonde..effectively debarred him.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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