emancipation
/ɪˌmansɪˈpeɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
Origin
Latin
emancipatio — a formal release of a son from the power of a father
Overview
Meaning Now
- The process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions.
- The formal freeing of someone from slavery.
Literal older meaning
the act of releasing from the hand (power) of another
Language path
Latin → French → English
Earliest form
emancipation
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term originates from Roman law (mancipatio), where it described the formal ceremony of transferring ownership or releasing a child from the patria potestas (paternal power). It was later adopted in political discourse to describe the movement toward abolition of slavery and the securing of civil rights for disenfranchised groups.
Evolution
- Latin
emancipare
“to transfer property or release from paternal power”
- Middle French
émancipation
“the act of setting free”
- Modern English
emancipation
“liberation from various social and political constraints”
Connections
Word parts
e-
prefix
out
man-
root
hand
-cip-
root
to take/grasp
-ation
suffix
act or process
Related across languages
French
émancipation
emancipation
Spanish
emancipación
emancipation
German
Emanzipation
emancipation
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.