[f. L. ēmancipāt- ppl. stem of ēmancipāre of same meaning.
1. trans. In Roman Law: To release or set free (a child or wife) from the patria potestas, the power of the pater familias, thus making the person so set free sui juris.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxiv. 131. Requires no more of them, then Fathers require of the Children, whom they emancipate.
1741. T. Robinson, Gavelkind, ii. 11. In Case a Son was dead or emancipated.
1875. Maine, Hist. Inst., vii. 217. The Son discharged from Paternal Power is emancipated.
2. gen. a. To set free from control; to release from legal, social or political restraint.
In mod. lang. the word suggests primarily the liberation of slaves, the other uses being often felt as transf. from this.
1625. Donne, Serm. (1640), iii. 27. To emancipate them from the tyran.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 123. As an apprentice is emancipated by running away from his master.
a. 1832. Bentham, Wks., 1843, II. 502. Individuals who have been emancipated, or have emancipated themselves from governments.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Irel., 117. The law has … emancipated us from our civil disabilities.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 651. That the convicts should be carried beyond sea as slaves, that they should not be emancipated for ten years.
1851. Gladstone, Glean., VI. lxviii. 44. Suppose the Colonial Churches emancipated.
a. 1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. ii. 84. Workmen emancipating themselves from their employer.
b. absol.
1775. Dk. Richmond, Lett., in Burke’s Corr. (1844), II. 29. If our [colonies] emancipate, it will … be some good to humanity.
c. transf. and fig. To set free from intellectual or moral restraint. Also refl.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. vii. 25. We become emancipated from testimoniall engagements.
1699. Evelyn, Acetaria, 152. From many troublesome and slavish Impertinencies … he had Emancipated and freed himself.
1710. Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., § 14. To emancipate our thoughts from particular objects.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 558. Those evil passions … were on a sudden emancipated from controul.
1850. Kingsley, Alt. Locke, iii. (1876), 41. I was emancipated from modern Puritanism.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 126. Plato has not emancipated himself from the limitations of ancient politics.
† 3. To deliver into servitude or subjection; to enslave; (because emancipation in Roman Law was effected by fictitious sale). Obs.
1629. H. Burton, Babel no Bethel, 71. Emancipate … is, to captiuate ones selfe to another, as well as to free.
1629. Cholmley, ibid. 70. A wiues Emancipating herselfe to another husband.
1752. Smart, Hop Garden, I. 195. To dalliance vile and sloth Emancipated.
