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Innocence - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Innocence : (noun)
1: the quality of innocent naivete [syn: artlessness, ingenuousness,
naturalness]
2: the state of being free from sin or moral wrong; lacking a
knowledge of evil [syn: purity, sinlessness]
3: a state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime
or offense; "the trial established his innocence" [ant: guilt]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Innocence : \In"no*cence\, n. [F. innocence, L. innocentia. See
Innocent.]
1. The state or quality of being innocent; freedom from that
which is harmful or infurious; harmlessness.
2. The state or quality of being morally free from guilt or
sin; purity of heart; blamelessness.
The silence often of pure innocence Persuades when
speaking fails. --Shak.
Banished from man's life his happiest life,
Simplicity and spotless innocence! --Milton.
3. The state or quality of being not chargeable for, or
guilty of, a particular crime or offense; as, the
innocence of the prisoner was clearly shown.
4. Simplicity or plainness, bordering on weakness or
silliness; artlessness; ingenuousness. --Chaucer. Shak.
Syn: Harmlessness; innocuousness; blamelessness; purity;
sinlessness; guiltlessness.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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INNOCENCE, The absence of guilt.
2. The law presumes in favor of innocence, even against another
presumption of law: for example, when a woman marries a second husband
within the space of twelve months after her husband had left the country,
the presumption ofInnocence : preponderates over the presumption of the
continuance of life. 2 B. & A. 386 3 Stark. Ev. 1249. An exception to this
rule respecting the presumption of innocence has been made in the case of
the publication of a libel, the principal being presumed to have authorized
the sale, when a libel is sold by his agent in his usual place of doing
business. 1 Russ. on Cr. 341; 10 Johns. R. 443; Bull. N. P. 6; Greenl. Ev.
Sec. 36. See 4 Nev. & M. 341; 2 Ad. & Ell. 540; 5 Barn. & Ad. 86; 1 Stark.
N. P. C. 21; 2 Nov. & M. 219.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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