EXON'ERATE, verb transitive egzon'erate. [Latin exonero; ex and onero, to load, onus, a load.] 1. To unload; to disburden. The vessels exonerate themselves into a common duct. But more generally, in a figurative sense. 2. To cast off, as a charge or as blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon the character as an imputation; as, to exonerate one's self from blame, or from the charge of avarice. 3. To cast off, as an obligation, debt or duty; to discharge of responsibility or liability; as, a surety exonerates himself by producing a man in court.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI