emancipate Meaning, Definition & Usage

E*man"ci*pate transitive verb

Etymology

L. emancipatus, p. p. of emancipare to emancipate; e + mancipare to transfer ownership in, fr. manceps purchaser, as being one who laid his hand on the thing bought; manus hand + capere to take. See Manual, and Capable.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Emancipated ; present participle & verbal noun Emancipating

Definitions

1. To set free from the power of another; to liberate; as: (a) To set free, as a minor from a parent; as, a father may emancipate a child. (b) To set free from bondage; to give freedom to; to manumit; as, to emancipate a slave, or a country.

   Brasidas . . . declaring that he was sent to emancipate Hellas. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

   (c) To free from any controlling influence, especially from anything which exerts undue or evil influence; as, to emancipate one from prejudices or error.

   From how many troublesome and slavish impertinences . . . he had emancipated and freed himself. Evelyn.

   To emancipate the human conscience. A. W. Ward.

E*man"ci*pate adjective

Etymology

L. emancipatus, p. p.

Definitions

1. Set at liberty.