manumission English · revision 1219

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌmænjʊˈmɪʃn̩/ ''(UK)''; /ˌmænjəˈmɪʃən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''manumissioun'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) partly [[der|fro|manumission|t=freedom, emancipation]]^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and partly [[der|la|manumissio|t=the freeing of a slave]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''manumittere'' “to set free”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from the phrase ''manū mittere'' “to release from one's hand”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) that is, [[af|la|manus|mitto|t1=hand; power of a master|t2=to let go, release]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[manumit]] and [[mission]].^(RHWU)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Etymonline records it about 1400 in the sense of Christ's redemption of mankind,^(Etymonline) and early in the 15th century as freedom from feudal servitude;^(Etymonline) the OED's first quotation, for formal release from slavery or servitude, is from 1432–50.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was soon used figuratively of any release (1549).^(OED 1989) It was applied specifically to the freeing of black slaves in the British colonies by the 1660s.^(Etymonline) In older Scots it also meant graduation from a university.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1400 – ''manumissioun''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1432–50 – formal release from slavery.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1549 – figurative release.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1604 – graduation (Scots, obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[manumit|alt=manumitting]]; formal release from [[slavery]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An instance of freeing a slave or [[servitude|alt=servant]].^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[manumit]]

+ * [[mission]]

+ * [[emancipation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}