Redeem
/rɪˈdiːm/noun
To gain possession of something in exchange for payment or to set free from sin or evil.
Did you know?In ancient times, the act of redeeming involved not just financial transactions but also spiritual liberation, linking money to the divine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*re-
“again, back”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰei-
“to put, to place, to set”
Latin
Latin
redimere
“to buy back, to recover”
Old French
Old French
redemprendre
“to take back, to reclaim”
Middle English
Middle English
redeemien
“to deliver, to rescue from sin or bondage”
Modern English
English
redeem
“to recover ownership or possession, especially of something pledged or lost.”