In"no*cent (?), a. [F.innocent, L. innocens, -entis; pref. in- not + nocens, p.pr. of nocere to harm, hurt. See Noxious.] 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. 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. 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. Simple; artless; foolish.
Shak.
5. Lawful; permitted; as, an innocent trade.
6. Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture; as, innocent goods carried to a belligerent nation.
Innocent party Law,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.
© Webster 1913.
In"no*cent, n. 1. An innocent person; one free from, or unacquainted with, guilt or sin.
Shak.
2. An unsophisticated person; hence, a child; a simpleton; an idiot.
B. Jonson.
In Scotland a natural fool was called an innocent.
Sir W. Scott.
Innocents' day Eccl., Childermas day.
© Webster 1913. | 
