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

/ ɪˈmænsɪpətərɪ; ɪˈmænsɪˌpeɪt; -trɪ /

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

In the utopian vision, technology emancipates human labor from repetitive, mundane tasks, freeing us to be more productive and take on more fulfilling work.

From Vox

The newly emancipated responded with cries of joy and prayers of gratitude — a celebration that became known as Juneteenth.

From Washington Post

They were emancipated in November 1848 and educated in New York, where they made anti-slavery speeches and attended anti-slavery meetings.

From Washington Post

In Georgia, he became a skilled barber and was able to earn enough side money to emancipate himself.

From Washington Post

The desire to emancipate Greece, the birthplace of democracy, ran strong among the British for centuries.

From The Daily Beast

Was the president planning to act on the wishes of the radicals of his party and emancipate all the slaves?

From The Daily Beast

Namely, that we are narcissistic, entitled, financial drains on our parents, unable to emancipate, and excessively solipsistic.

From The Daily Beast

“Like so many other young people in this country, Timmy, when he reached age 18, was allowed to emancipate,” says Jeannette.

From The Daily Beast

He might also emancipate an unmarried daughter, who thus in her own self became an independent family.

From Project Gutenberg

Conservatism cannot emancipate itself from the conditions of the age.

From Project Gutenberg

Can Sir P. Perring understand the difference between finding fault with others, and seeking to emancipate ourselves?

From Project Gutenberg

The second effect has been to break down family, local, and national ties, and emancipate the individual man.

From Project Gutenberg

It is necessary also to emancipate our minds from the obsession that only "ignorant foreigners" are affected.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• liberate
• loosen