WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Re*deem" (r*dm")
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [F. r\'82dimer, 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.]
Definition : 1. To purchase back; to regain possession of by payment of a stipulated price; to repurchase. If a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold. Lev. xxv. 29.

2. Hence, specifically: (a) (Law) To recall, as an estate, or to regain, as mortgaged property, by paying what may be due by force of the mortgage. (b) (Com.) To regain by performing the obligation or condition stated; to discharge the obligation mentioned in, as a promissory note, bond, or other evidence of debt; as, to redeem bank notes with coin.

3. 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. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Ps. xxv. 22. The Almighty from the grave Hath me redeemed. Sandys.

4. (Theol.)

Defn: Hence, to rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Gal. iii. 13.

5. To make good by performing fully; to fulfill; as, to redeem one's promises. I will redeem all this on Percy's head. Shak.

6. 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. Which of ye will be mortal, to redeem Man's mortal crime Milton. It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows. Shak. To redeem the time, to make the best use of it.

t. [imp. & p. p. Redeemed. (-dp. pr. & vb. n. Redeeming.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913