Emancipate
Verb
Definition: To set free from slavery, oppression, or constraint; liberate.
Synonyms: Free, Liberate, Release, Set free
Antonyms: Enslave, Imprison, Hold captive
- The abolitionists fought to emancipate the slaves.
- Women fought for their rights and were eventually emancipated from societal constraints.
- Emancipate sounds like "man escape," which can remind you of setting someone free.
Etymology:
The word "emancipate" comes from the Latin word "emancipatus," which means to transfer ownership from one person to another.
Historical Usage:The term was commonly used during the abolitionist movement in the 18th and 19th centuries when many countries were striving to end slavery.
Related Idioms:
"Emancipation Proclamation"
Explanation:Refers to the executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, declaring that all slaves in Confederate territory were to be set free. This proclamation played a crucial role in the emancipation of millions of slaves in the United States.
Misconceptions:
Emancipate can only be used in the context of legal or institutional liberation.
Explanation:While emancipate is commonly associated with freeing individuals from legal, social, or political restrictions, it can also be used metaphorically to represent freedom from personal limitations or mental constraints.