disculp

To disculpate.

Verb

  1. To disculpate.
    • Of nothinge in this one fault […] can I disculpe myselfe. - 1602, John Donne, Letter 11 February in A. J. Kempe, Loseley Manuscripts (1836):
    • I trusted that the conventional lie that disculps the author of a roman à clef would be recognised for what it was. - 1972, Julian Pitt-Rivers, The People of the Sierra:

    Synonyms: absolve exculpate exonerate acquittance assoil assoilzie acquit clear disculp disculpate vindicate

Origin

First attested in 1602; borrowed from French disculper or its own etymon, Medieval Latin disculpō, from dis- + culpō. Doublet of disculpate.

Forms

disculps disculping disculped

Related

culpable culpate culprit disculpate exculpate inculpate mea culpa