emancipate

[ ih-man-suh-peyt ]

verb (used with object)

, e·man·ci·pat·ed, e·man·ci·pat·ing.

1. to free from restraint, influence, or the like.
2. to free (a person) from bondage or slavery.
3. Roman and Civil Law. to terminate paternal control over.

emancipate

/ -trɪ; ɪˈmænsɪpətərɪ; ɪˈmænsɪˌpeɪt /

verb

1. to free from restriction or restraint, esp social or legal restraint
2. often passive to free from the inhibitions imposed by conventional morality
3. to liberate (a slave) from bondage

Derived Forms

• eˈmanciˌpative, adjective
• eˈmanciˌpator, noun
• eˈmanciˌpated, adjective
• emancipatory, adjective

Other Words From

• e·man·ci·pa·tive adjective
• e·man·ci·pa·tor noun
• non·e·man·ci·pa·tive adjective
• un·e·man·ci·pa·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of emancipate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin ēmancipātus (past participle of ēmancipāre ) “freed from control,” equivalent to ē- “out of, from” ( e- ¹ ) + man(us) “hand” + -cip- (combining form of capere “to seize”) + -ātus past participle suffix ( -ate ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of emancipate¹

C17: from Latin ēmancipāre to give independence (to a son), from mancipāre to transfer property, from manceps a purchaser; see manciple

Synonym Study

See release.

Example Sentences

Bynes' home environment was so troubling that she attempted to emancipate from her parents.

From Salon

Bynes' home environment was so troubling that she attempted to emancipate from her parents when she was around 16 or 17.

From Salon

Struggling under piles of debt and in ill health, an aging Madison resolved to emancipate “his people.”

From Literature

Lafayette had already attempted without success to convince George Washington to emancipate his slaves and allow them to live in freedom on an island Lafayette offered to purchase.

From Literature

Neither Jefferson nor his heirs could afford to emancipate anyone besides the children of Sally Hemings.

From Literature

Related Words

• liberate
• loosen