deliverance
UK: dɪˈlɪvərəns | US: dɪˈlɪvərəns
n. the act of rescuing or being rescued from danger, oppression, or difficulty
n. (theology) spiritual salvation or liberation, especially in a religious context
n. (archaic) the formal handing over of something (e.g., a legal document)
deliverance = deliver<to set free> + ance<noun suffix>
- deliver: From Old French delivrer (to free, release), derived from Latin dē (away) + līberāre (to free).
- ance: A noun-forming suffix of French/Latin origin, indicating an action or state (e.g., importance, resistance).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin dēlīberāre (to liberate completely), merging dē- (thoroughly) and līber (free). Over time, Old French softened it into delivrer, which entered Middle English as deliveren (to rescue or hand over). The suffix -ance was added to nominalize the act of liberation, reflecting both physical rescue (e.g., from captivity) and spiritual salvation (e.g., in Christian theology).
The hostages prayed for deliverance from their captors.
The sermon focused on divine deliverance from sin.
(Archaic) The knight awaited the deliverance of the king’s decree.
The community celebrated their deliverance after the flood receded.
In literature, deliverance often symbolizes a character’s moral awakening.