v.tr.
1. buy back; recover by expenditure of effort or by a stipulated payment.
2 make a single payment to discharge (a regular charge or obligation).
3 convert (tokens or bonds etc.) into goods or cash.
4 (of God or Christ) deliver from sin and damnation.
5 make up for; be a compensating factor in (has one redeeming feature).
6 (foll. by from) save from (a defect).
7 refl. save (oneself) from blame.
8 purchase the freedom of (a person).
9 save (a person's life) by ransom.
10 save or rescue or reclaim.
11 fulfil (a promise).
Derivatives:
redeemable adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF redimer or L redimere redempt- (as RE-, emere buy)