Lewis & Short

in-nŏcens, entis, adj. (gen. plur. innocentūm, Plaut. Rud. 3, 2, 5; but innocentium, Cic. Verr. 4, 52, § 116), that does no harm.

  1. 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.
  2. II. Transf., that harms no one, blameless, guiltless, innocent.
    1. 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, id. 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.
    2. 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.