Syn. — Harmlessness; innocuousness; blamelessness; purity; sinlessness; guiltlessness.
INNOCENCY
In"no*cen*cy, n.
Defn: Innocence.
INNOCENT In"no*cent, a. Etym: [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.