What does “exculpate” mean?

The word exculpate is derived from Latin roots: 'ex-' meaning 'out of' and 'culpa' meaning 'blame' or 'fault'. Therefore, to exculpate someone means to declare that they are not guilty of wrongdoing; to clear them from blame. "To clear from blame" (B) is the precise definition. This action involves removing responsibility or guilt from an individual after an accusation or suspicion. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they represent different or opposite concepts. "To find guilty" (A) is the antonym of exculpate. "To accuse falsely" (C) involves placing blame, not removing it, and specifically implies an untrue accusation. "To punish severely" (D) refers to the consequence of guilt, not the act of determining or removing blame itself. Exculpation focuses solely on the removal of culpability.