Library / English Dictionary

REDEEM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Convert into cash; of commercial papers

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "redeem" is one way to...):

cash; cash in (exchange for cash)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

redeemer (someone who redeems or buys back (promissory notes or merchandise or commercial paper etc.))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pay off (loans or promissory notes)

Synonyms:

pay off; redeem

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "redeem" is one way to...):

pay (give money, usually in exchange for goods or services)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

redeemer (someone who redeems or buys back (promissory notes or merchandise or commercial paper etc.))

redemption (repayment of the principal amount of a debt or security at or before maturity (as when a corporation repurchases its own stock))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exchange or buy back for money; under threat

Synonyms:

ransom; redeem

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "redeem" is one way to...):

change; exchange; interchange (give to, and receive from, one another)

Domain category:

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

redeemer (someone who redeems or buys back (promissory notes or merchandise or commercial paper etc.))

redemption (the act of purchasing back something previously sold)

Sense 4

Meaning:

To turn in (vouchers or coupons) and receive something in exchange

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "redeem" is one way to...):

change; exchange; interchange (give to, and receive from, one another)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Restore the honor or worth of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "redeem" is one way to...):

reestablish; reinstate; restore (bring back into original existence, use, function, or position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Save from sins

Synonyms:

deliver; redeem; save

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Domain category:

faith; organized religion; religion (an institution to express belief in a divine power)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

Redeemer (a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29))

redemption ((theology) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil)

redemptive (bringing about salvation or redemption from sin)

redemptive; redemptory (of or relating to or resulting in redemption)

Credits

 Context examples: 

At his and Mrs. Jennings's united request in return, Mrs. Dashwood was prevailed on to accept the use of his carriage on her journey back, for the better accommodation of her sick child; and the Colonel, at the joint invitation of Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Jennings, whose active good-nature made her friendly and hospitable for other people as well as herself, engaged with pleasure to redeem it by a visit at the cottage, in the course of a few weeks.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He could fix up Lizzie, redeem all his promises, and still have enough left to build his grass-walled castle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

When was redeemed that great shame of my nation, the shame of Cassova, when the flags of the Wallach and the Magyar went down beneath the Crescent?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

True, reader; and I knew and felt this: and though I am a defective being, with many faults and few redeeming points, yet I never tired of Helen Burns; nor ever ceased to cherish for her a sentiment of attachment, as strong, tender, and respectful as any that ever animated my heart.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And yet I did not despise him the more for it, but thought it a redeeming quality in him if he could be allowed any grace for not resisting one so irresistible as Steerforth.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He tried to make us act plays and to enter into masquerades, in which the characters were drawn from the heroes of Roncesvalles, of the Round Table of King Arthur, and the chivalrous train who shed their blood to redeem the holy sepulchre from the hands of the infidels.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

He was a winter late in redeeming his promise, but redeemed it was, for the last, least Silva got a pair of shoes, as well as Maria herself.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He have allowed us to redeem one soul already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem more.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

His is the ambition of the high master-spirit, which aims to fill a place in the first rank of those who are redeemed from the earth—who stand without fault before the throne of God, who share the last mighty victories of the Lamb, who are called, and chosen, and faithful.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Not only did he partially pay up his bills, but he had sufficient balance left to redeem his black suit and wheel.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)