Manumit

[scw1217]

This word came to me from the story of Robert Carter III, who is said to have had the "largest known manumission in the United States." Looking up the word "manumission" only gives "the act of manumitting".

Manumit

–verb (used with object), -mit·ted, -mit·ting.
to release from slavery or servitude.

1375–1425; late ME < L manūmittere, earlier manū ēmittere to send away from (one's) hand, i.e., to set free. See manus, emit

Manus comes back as derived from the Latin word for "hand"

[Slava]

An excellent word, thank you scw1217. It led me to look up emancipation, too. We haven't seen that one, either.

Both refer to freeing, but manumission/manumit are strictly about slaves. Emancipation is a general freeing concept, though it's arguably most famous usage is in referring to some Proclamation made a few years back.

[LukeJavan8]

This word came to me from the story of Robert Carter III, who is said to have had the "largest known manumission in the United States." Looking up the word "manumission" only gives "the act of manumitting".



A most interesting piece of history, thanks.