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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Exoner, v. Also: exhoner; ex(h)onor, -our. [F. exonérer, L. exonerāre.]

1. tr. To annul (a claim, etc.); to pay off (a debt). 1512 Reg. Privy S. I. 368/2.
A lettre … quietclamand and exonerand to thaim all rycht, clame and title of richt that the king … may haif in or to the landis [etc.] 1568 Waus Corr. I. 40.
M^r Patrick sall exoner and pay haill dettis that may be creiffit apon hyr

2. To relieve from (or of) a charge, obligation, duty, etc.(a) 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 512/1.
We … exoneris, dischargis and quitclamis him of all … amerciamentis and unlawis 1532 Reg. Cupar A. I. 315.
Our said souerane lord hes exonerit and dischargit ws … of all taxtis and contributionis 1555 Digest Justiciary Proc. B. 122.
Certane sowmes of money payit to thame … be Robert Dunlop, quhilk they grant thame weil content and payit of and exoneris him thairof 1601 Liber Melros 654.
We bayth … exoners, qwytclamis, and simpliciter dischairges the said nobill and potent lord … of the lyk soume 1639 Aberdeen B. Rec. III. 165.
Seing thay hawe beine exonered frome quartering in tymes bygonne 1652 Wemyss Chart. 235.
That the relict be exonerid of Cicill Weymes fyue hundrithe merkis of debt a 1686 Turner Mem. 226.
As to the … bonds taken be him … Sir James should be exonerd of the same(b) 1550 Rec. Earld. Orkney 104.
Thairfoir … exhoneris, quitclameis and dischargeis the forsaid … of all maner of clameis 1641 Baillie I. 380.
They answered … that to exhoner him of his commission, they could not till the Treatie were closed(c) 1559 Carte Northberwic 76.
To releiff and exonour the said Jhone Spens of the said summes 1562 Inverness B. Rec. I. 80.
To heir and se Marget Waus … be dischargit and exhonorit of thair intromissioun of the saidis gudis 1577 Ib. 254.
The forsaidis personis … sall exhonour thame of all costis … thai sall happin to incur 1594 Douglas Bequest (Reg. H.) 23 Jan.
Certane sowmes of monie … quhairof I hald me weill content … and payit, and exonoris, quitclamis, and dischairgis the said M^r Eduard … for euir

b. refl. To free (oneself) by resigning an office, dignity, or occupation. Const. of. 1531 Bell. Boece i. 35.
He suld exoner him glaidly of the crown at the nixt conventioun Ib.
In the quhilk he suld … exoner him of al auctorite Id. Livy II. 84/32.
I exoner me here of the dictatorie 1562 Peebles B. Rec. 287.
The scoill maister fra this hour furth to wait on the teching of the barneis and exoner him of all vtheris pleasouris 1654 Stirling Ant. II. 16.
The sd day Mr. Hendrie Muschet exhonered himself before the session of his charge

3. To free from a burden; to unload. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 199/13.
He tuke purpois to exoner himself and his realme of this infinite nowmer of pepill 1533 Boece ix. xvi. 329 b.
He accustumyt with grete vile vomitis exoner his stomok Ib. x. vii. 361 b.
Brude … chargit than apoun barme hors exonerit of cariage suld be sett wemen and servandis

b. Of a river: To discharge (itself). 1611 Reg. Panmure I. p. xci.
Quhilk [stripe] betuix the skryne and the haltone of Innerpeffer separatis them vnto the sea, quhair in it does exoner the self

4. To free from blame; to exculpate. 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 19.
Exonering & releving them of all pane & cryme that may be imputt to thame 1646 Baillie II. 363.
We have no hopes of any reason from them: yet we must exoner our conscience 1664 Lauderdale P. I. 198.
We can but regrait the neglect, and exoner ourselves when we cannot help it