Word Study
redeem
CIDE DICTIONARY
redeem, v. t. [F. rédimer, L. redimere; pref. red-, re- re- + emere, emptum, to buy, originally, to take, cf. OIr. em (in comp.), Lith. imti. Cf. Assume, Consume, Exempt, Premium, Prompt, Ransom.].
- To purchase back; to regain possession of by payment of a stipulated price; to repurchase. [1913 Webster]"If a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold." [1913 Webster]
- To recall, as an estate, or to regain, as mortgaged property, by paying what may be due by force of the mortgage. [1913 Webster]
- To ransom, liberate, or rescue from captivity or bondage, or from any obligation or liability to suffer or to be forfeited, by paying a price or ransom; to ransom; to rescue; to recover; as, to redeem a captive, a pledge, and the like. [1913 Webster]"Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles." [1913 Webster]"The Almighty from the grave
Hath me redeemed." [1913 Webster] - Hence, to rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law. [1913 Webster]"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." [1913 Webster]
- To make good by performing fully; to fulfill; as, to redeem one's promises. [1913 Webster]"I will redeem all this on Percy's head." [1913 Webster]
- To pay the penalty of; to make amends for; to serve as an equivalent or offset for; to atone for; to compensate; as, to redeem an error. [1913 Webster]"Which of ye will be mortal, to redeem
Man's mortal crime?" [1913 Webster]"It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
redeem, v.tr.
1 buy back; recover by expenditure of effort or by a stipulated payment.
2 make a single payment to discharge (a regular charge or obligation).
3 convert (tokens or bonds etc.) into goods or cash.
4 (of God or Christ) deliver from sin and damnation.
5 make up for; be a compensating factor in (has one redeeming feature).
6 (foll. by from) save from (a defect).
7 refl. save (oneself) from blame.
8 purchase the freedom of (a person).
9 save (a person's life) by ransom.
10 save or rescue or reclaim.
11 fulfil (a promise).
1 buy back; recover by expenditure of effort or by a stipulated payment.
2 make a single payment to discharge (a regular charge or obligation).
3 convert (tokens or bonds etc.) into goods or cash.
4 (of God or Christ) deliver from sin and damnation.
5 make up for; be a compensating factor in (has one redeeming feature).
6 (foll. by from) save from (a defect).
7 refl. save (oneself) from blame.
8 purchase the freedom of (a person).
9 save (a person's life) by ransom.
10 save or rescue or reclaim.
11 fulfil (a promise).
Derivative
redeemable adj.
Etymology
ME f. OF redimer or L redimere redempt- (as RE-, emere buy)
THESAURUS
redeem
abet, abide by, absolve, acknowledge, aid, amend, amortize, assist, atone, atone for, avail, bail out, balance, be faithful to, bear a hand, bear the expense, befriend, benefit, buy, buy back, carry out, cash in, change, change for, chip in, clear, comfort, commute, compensate, compensate for, compound for, convert, counterbalance, counterpoise, countervail, defray, defray expenses, deliver, discharge, disenthrall, do good, doctor, dub in, ease, emancipate, exchange, expiate, extract, extricate, favor, finance, foot the bill, free, fund, get back, give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give help, give place to, give salvation, give satisfaction, go Dutch, help, honor, honor a bill, keep, keep faith with, lend a hand, lend one aid, liberate, lift, liquidate, live down, loose, make accounts square, make amends, make compensation, make do with, make good, make matters up, make reparation, make right, make up, make up for, make way for, manumit, new-model, offer in exchange, offset, outweigh, pay for, pay in full, pay off, pay the bill, pay the forfeit, pay the penalty, pay the piper, pay the shot, pay up, perform, proffer aid, propitiate, protect, put up with, rally, ransom, re-form, recapture, reclaim, recompense, recoup, recover, recuperate, recycle, redress, refashion, reform, regain, regenerate, rehabilitate, reinstate, release, relieve, remedy, remodel, render assistance, renew, renovate, reoccupy, repair, replevin, replevy, repossess, repurchase, rescue, reshape, restore, restore self-respect, resume, resuscitate, retake, retire, retrieve, revindicate, revive, ring in, salvage, satisfy, save, see through, set free, set off, set straight, set up, settle, shift with, square, square accounts, square it, square things, stand the costs, strike a balance, substitute, succor, switch, take back, take in exchange, take in tow, take up, trade in, unbind, unchain, win backROGET THESAURUS
redeem
Compensation
VB make compensation, compensate, compense, indemnify, counteract, countervail, counterpoise, balance, outbalance, overbalance, counterbalance, set off, hedge, square, give and take, make up for, lee way, cover, fill up, neutralize, nullify, equalize, make good, redeem.Restoration
VB return to the original state, recover, rally, revive, come come to, come round, come to oneself, pull through, weather the storm, be oneself again, get well, get round, get the better of, get over, get about, rise from one's ashes, rise from the grave, survive, resume, reappear, come to, come to life again, live again, rise again, heal, skin over, cicatrize, right itself, restore, put back, place in statu quo, reinstate, replace, reseat, rehabilitate, reestablish, reestate, reinstall, reconstruct, rebuild, reorganize, reconstitute, reconvert, renew, renovate, regenerate, rejuvenate, redeem, reclaim, recover, retrieve, rescue, redress, recure, cure, heal, remedy, doctor, physic, medicate, break of, bring round, set on one's legs, resuscitate, revive, reanimate, revivify, recall to life, reproduce, warm up, reinvigorate, refresh, make whole, redintegrate, recoup, make good, make all square, rectify, correct, put right, put to rights, set right, set to rights, set straight, set up, put in order, refit, recruit, fill up, fill up the ranks, reinforce, repair, put in repair, remanufacture, put in thorough repair, put in complete repair, retouch, refashion, botch, vamp, tinker, cobble, do up, patch up, touch up, plaster up, vamp up, darn, finedraw, heelpiece, stop a gap, stanch, staunch, caulk, calk, careen, splice, bind up wounds.Deliverance
VB deliver, extricate, rescue, save, emancipate, redeem, ransom, bring off, bring through, tirer d'affaire, get the wheel out of the rut, snatch from the jaws of death, come to the rescue, rid, retrieve, be rid of, get rid of.Acquisition
VB acquire, get, gain, win, earn, obtain, procure, gather, collect, pick, pickup, glean, find, come upon, pitch upon, light upon, scrape up, scrape together, get in, reap and carry, net, bag, sack, bring home, secure, derive, draw, get in the harvest, profit, make profit, draw profit, turn a quick profit, turn to profit, turn to account, make capital out of, make money by, obtain a return, reap the fruits of, reap an advantage, gain an advantage, turn a penny, turn an honest penny, make the pot boil, bring grist to the mill, make money, coin money, raise money, raise funds, raise the wind, fill one's pocket, treasure up, realize, clear, produce, take, get back, recover, regain, retrieve, revendicate, replevy, redeem, come by one's own, come by, come in for, receive, inherit, step into a fortune, step into the shoes of, succeed to, get hold of, get between one's finger and thumb, get into one's hand, get at, take possession, come into possession, enter into possession, be profitable, pay, answer, accrue.Restitution
VB return, restore, give back, carry back, bring back, render, render up, give up, let go, unclutch, disgorge, regorge, regurgitate, recoup, reimburse, compensate, indemnify, remit, rehabilitate, repair, reinvest, revest, reinstate, redeem, recover, take back again, revest, revert.Substitution
VB substitute, put in the place of, change for, make way for, give place to, supply the place of, take the place of, supplant, supersede, replace, cut out, serve as a substitute, step into stand in the shoes of, jury rig, make a shift with, put up with, borrow from Peter to pay Paul, take money out of one pocket and put it in another, cannibalize, commute, redeem, compound for.Payment
VB pay, defray, make payment, paydown, pay on the nail, pay ready money, pay at sight, pay in advance, cash, honor a bill, acknowledge, redeem, pay in kind, pay one's way, pay one's shot, pay one's footing, pay the piper, pay sauce for all, pay costs, do the needful, shell out, fork out, cough up, fork over, come down with, come down with the dust, tickle the palm, grease the palm, expend, put down, lay down, discharge, settle, quit, acquit oneself of, foot the bill, account with, reckon with, settle with, be even with, be quits with, strike a balance, settle accounts with, balance accounts with, square accounts with, quit scores, wipe off old scores, clear off old scores, satisfy, pay in full, satisfy all demands, pay in full of all demands, clear, liquidate, pay up, pay old debts, disgorge, make repayment, repay, refund, reimburse, retribute, make compensation, pay by credit card, put it on the plastic.Deity
VB create, move, uphold, preserve, govern, atone, redeem, save, propitiate, mediate, predestinate, elect, call, ordain, bless, justify, sanctify, glorify Adj, almighty, holy, hallowed, sacred, divine, heavenly, celestial, sacrosanct, all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise, omniscient, superhuman, supernatural, ghostly, spiritual, hyperphysical, unearthly, theistic, theocratic, anointed, soterial.Atonement
VB atone, atone for, expiate, propitiate, make amends, make good, reclaim, redeem, repair, ransom, absolve, purge, shrive, do penance, stand in a white sheet, repent in sackcloth and ashes, wear a hairshirt, set one's house in order, wipe off old scores, make matters up, pay the forfeit, pay the penalty, apologize, beg pardon, fair l'amende honorable, give satisfaction, come down on one's knees, fall down on one's knees, down on one's marrow bones.For further exploring for "redeem" in Webster Dictionary Online