Medieval Latin exculpāreexculpāt- Latin ex-ex- Latin culpaguilt
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latinex culpa (ex (“from”) + culpa (“blame”)) + a Latinate ending.
Exculpate Sentence Examples
Both men were endeavouring to exculpate themselves, and therefore both statements are subject to suspicion.
He was one of the Scots who met Elizabeth's representatives at York in 1568; here he showed a desire to exculpate Mary and to marry her to the duke of Norfolk, a course of action probably dictated by a desire to avoid all revelations about the Darnley murder.
The notes' bearing upon the interview which he obtained with the king show that he had begun to see more clearly the nature and extent of the offences with which he was charged, that he now felt it impossible altogether to exculpate himself, and that his hopes were directed towards obtaining some mitigation of his sentence.
It also created a great impression in England, where it was believed that the Bandieras' correspondence with Mazzini (q.v.) had been tampered with, and that information as to the proposed expedition had been forwarded to the Austrian and Neapolitan governments by the British foreign office; recent publications, however, especially the biography of Sir James Graham, tend to exculpate the British government.