innocent

adj

Etymology: From Middle English innocent, from Old French innocent, inocent, borrowed from Latin innocēns (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”). By surface analysis, in- (“not”) + nocent (“harmful; guilty”). Displaced native Old English unsċyldiġ.

1. Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.

   “I'm sure there's an innocent explanation for all this.”

   “The situation certainly looked bad, but it turned out that everything was innocent.”

2. Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
3. Without wrongful intent; accidental or in good faith.

   “He didn't mean anything by it; it was an innocent mistake.”

   “The child's innocent question revealed the embarrassing truth in front of everyone.”

4. Naive; artless.

   “I can find out no rhyme to / 'lady' but 'baby' – an innocent rhyme;”

5. Not harmful; innocuous; harmless; benign.

   “The spear / Sung innocent, and spent its force in air.”

   “Although an innocent murmur is not an obstacle to participation in sports and exercise, a pathologic murmur may necessitate restrictions on the child's physical activity.”

6. Lacking (something), or knowledge of it.

   “George was not a believer in modern innovations. The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.”

   “At the beginning of July Stafford station was innocent of buildings, except for a couple of coach bodies to house the staff, but the temporary accommodation to cover the period of building the new station was well on the way to completion.”

7. Lawful; permitted.

   “an innocent trade”

8. Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture.

   “innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation”

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English innocent, from Old French innocent, inocent, borrowed from Latin innocēns (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”). By surface analysis, in- (“not”) + nocent (“harmful; guilty”). Displaced native Old English unsċyldiġ.

1. One who is innocent, especially a young child.

   “The slaughter of the innocents was a significant event in the New Testament.”

   “We were asked to strike that impossible balance between being innocents and whores.”

2. A harmless simple-minded person; an idiot.