Acquittance Meaning and Definition
Acquittance
Pronunciation
/əˈkwɪntəns/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A written document acknowledging receipt of payment, and the release of an obligation or debt.
Examples
- The lawyer demanded a written acquittance for the outstanding payment.
- After receiving the payment, the creditor signed the acquittance and returned the documents to the debtor.
- The notary guaranteed that the acquittance was authentic and binding.
- The court required the defendant to present a valid acquittance before releasing his assets.
- The bank used digital acquittances for instant transactions during the trial period.
Synonyms
- Receipt
- Release
- Quitclaim
Antonyms
- Indenture
- Debt
- Obligation
Etymology
The word ‘acquittance’ originates from the Old French ‘acquitance’, meaning ‘quittance’ or ‘release’, derived from the Latin ‘quittare’, meaning ‘to quit’ or ‘to surrender’.
Usage Notes
Acquittances are often used in business, finance, and law to document the settlement of debts or transactions. It’s essential to have a written acquittance, as it serves as proof of payment and release.
Cultural References
In popular culture, acquittances are often depicted as crucial documents in financial or legal contexts. For example, in the movie ‘The Big Short’, the characters encounter an acquittance during their investigation into the mortgage crisis.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
There are no common idiomatic expressions or phrases that include the word ‘acquittance’, as it is primarily used in formal or professional contexts.
Related Words or Phrases
Words related to acquittances include receipt, release, quitclaim, and discharge. Phrases like ‘give an acquittance’ or ‘obtain an acquittance’ are also closely related.
Collocations
Common word combinations with acquittance include ‘written acquittance’, ‘signed acquittance’, and ‘digital acquittance’.
Frequency of Use
Acquittances are commonly used in formal or professional settings, but the frequency of use has decreased in modern times with the rise of digital transactions and online payment systems.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of ‘acquittance’ include ‘acquitance’, ‘acquittance’, and ‘acquitance’.