I.gen. plur. innocentūm, Plaut. Rud. 3, 2, 5; “but innocentium,” Cic. Verr. 4, 52, § 116), that does no harm.
I. Lit., harmless, inoffensive, innoxious (syn. insons): “epistula,” Cic. Fam. 5, 18: “ruina,” Mart. 1, 83, 11: “innocentis pocula Lesbii,” Hor. C. 1, 17, 21: “innocentior cibus,” Plin. 23, 7, 67, § 132.—
II. Transf., that harms no one, blameless, guiltless, innocent.
A. In gen.: servus, Plant. Capt. 3, 5, 7: innocens is dicitur, non qui leviter nocet, sed qui nihil nocet, Cic. Tusc. 5, 14, 41: “innocens si accusatus sit, absolvi potest,” id. Rosc. Am. 20, 56: “vir integer, innocens, religiosus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 4, § 7: “parricidii,” Flor. 4, 1: “factorum innocens sum,” Tac. A. 4, 34: “innocentissimo patre privatus est,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 33, § 88: “contentiones,” carried on without bitterness, Vell. 1, 11, 6: “vita innocentissimus,” id. 2, 2, 2.—As subst.: innŏcens , entis, m., the guiltless man: “cum innocente abstinentiā certabat (Cato),” Sall. C. 54, 5; Auct. Her. 2, 3, 5. —
B. In partic., disinterested, upright: “praetores,” Cic. Verr. 1, 4, 12: “vir innocens et industrius,” Suet. Vit. 2; Plin. Pan. 28, 3.—Hence, adv.: innŏcenter , harmlessly, blamelessly, innocently: “vivere,” Quint. 7, 4, 18: “opes innocenter paratae,” Tac. A. 4, 44.— Comp.: “omnia, quae caeduntur, innocentius decrescente luna, quam crescente fiunt,” more safely, better, Plin. 18, 32, 75, § 321: “agere,” Tac. H. 1, 9. — Sup.: vita innocentissime acta, Auct. Decl. ap. Sall. 2.