IN'NOCENCE IN'NOCENCY, noun [Latin innocentia; in and noceo, to hurt.] 1. Properly, freedom from any quality that can injure; innoxiousness; harmlessness; as the innocence of a medicine which can do no harm. In this sense, the noun is not obsolete, though less used than the adjective. 2. In a moral sense, freedom from crime, sin or guilt; untainted purity of heart and life; unimpaired integrity. Enjoyment left nothing to ask--innocence left nothing to fear. 3. Freedom from guilt or evil intentions; simplicity of heart; as the innocence of a child. 4. Freedom from the guilt of a particular sin or crime. This is the sense in which the word is most generally used, for perfect innocence cannot be predicated of man. A man charged with theft or murder may prove his innocence 5. The state of being lawfully conveyed to a belligerent, or of not being contraband; as the innocence of a cargo, or of any merchandize.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI