WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ex*on"er*ate
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [L. exoneratus, p. p. of exonerare to free from a burden; ex out, from onerare to load, onus load. See Onerous.]
Definition : 1. To unload; to disburden; to discharge. [Obs.] All exonerate themselves into one common duct. Ray.

2. To relieve, in a moral sense, as of a charge, obligation, or load of blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon oppresses one, as an accusation or imputation; as, to exonerate one's self from blame, or from the charge of avarice. Burke.

3. To discharge from duty or obligation, as a ball.

Syn. - To absolve; acquit; exculpate. See Absolve.

t. [imp. & p. p. Exonerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Exonerating.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913