emancipation

UK: ɪˌmænsɪˈpeɪʃən | US: ɪˌmænsəˈpeɪʃən

Definition

  1. n. the act of freeing someone from control, oppression, or restraint

  2. n. the formal abolition of slavery or serfdom

  3. n. the process of gaining social, political, or economic rights

Structure
e <out>man <hand>cip <take>ation <noun suffix>
Etymology

The word "emancipation" traces back to Latin emancipatio, derived from emancipare ("to declare free"). It combines:

  • e- (a variant of ex-, meaning "out"),
  • manus ("hand," symbolizing control or ownership),
  • capere ("to take").
    Originally, it referred to the Roman legal act of releasing a son from paternal authority (manus + capere = "taking from hand"). Over time, it broadened to signify liberation from any form of bondage, notably in contexts like the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), which abolished slavery in the U.S.
Examples

  1. The emancipation of enslaved people marked a turning point in American history.

  2. Women’s emancipation movements fought for equal voting rights in the early 20th century.

  3. Legal emancipation allows minors to become independent of their parents.

  4. The novel explores themes of personal emancipation from societal expectations.

  5. Economic emancipation requires access to education and fair wages.