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). redeemable adj.
[ ME f. OF redimer or L redimere redempt- (as RE-, emere buy) ]