D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 8 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Innocent

/ĭn'-əs-ənt/ · In·no·cent · IPA /ˈɪnəsənt/
01 a. Not harmful; free from that which can injure; innoxious; innocuous; harmless; as, an innocent medicine or remedy.
  1. 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. 2.
    Morally free from guilt; guiltless; not tainted with sin; pure; upright.
    “To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb.” — Shak.
    “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” — Matt. xxvii. 4.
    “The aidless, innocent lady, his wished prey.” — Milton.
  3. 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. 4.
    Simple; artless; foolish.
  5. 5.
    Lawful; permitted; as, an innocent trade.
  6. 6.
    Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture; as, innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation.
Phrases & compounds
Innocent party — a party who has not notice of a fact tainting a litigated transaction with illegality.
Syn. Harmless; innoxious; innoffensive; guiltless; spotless; immaculate; pure; unblamable; blameless; faultless; guileless; upright.
02 n. An innocent person; one free from, or unacquainted with, guilt or sin.
  1. 1.
    An innocent person; one free from, or unacquainted with, guilt or sin.
  2. 2.
    An unsophisticated person; hence, a child; a simpleton; an idiot.
    “In Scotland a natural fool was called an innocent.” — Sir W. Scott.
Phrases & compounds
Innocents' day — Childermas day.