redemption
UK[rɪˈdɛmpʃn]US[rɪˈdɛmpʃn]
n
The act of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
n
The action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
empt
ion
re
again
empt
take
ion
action/state
Etymology
The word "redemption" originates from the Latin redemptio, meaning "a buying back, ransoming," which itself derives from redimere, a compound of re- (back) and emere (to take, buy). The core concept is one of recovering or reclaiming something—be it a person, an item, or a state of grace—through a transactional or compensatory act. This literal sense of "buying back" evolved in Christian theology to signify the deliverance from sin through Christ's sacrifice, a powerful metaphorical extension of the original commercial logic. Over time, its application broadened to encompass any act of saving, atoning for, or recovering something of value, carrying forward the fundamental idea of restoration through a decisive action.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + empt (take) + ion (action/state)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
empt: From Latin emere (to take, buy), appearing in the past participial stem empt-.
ion: Latin suffix forming nouns indicating an action, process, or state.
Examples
He sought redemption for his past mistakes through years of community service.
The voucher is available for the redemption of goods at any participating store.
The film's story is a powerful tale of suffering and ultimate redemption.