The word manumission is very useful, on occasion, as to be manumitted is to be freed: the word freed stresses being autonomous, the complete absence of being ruled; the word autonomous emphasises independence in self-governance (managing, piloting, conducting); the word independence implies a standing alone, a lack of disempowering interference.

‘manumission: [from Latin manumittere, lit. ‘send out from one’s hand’]: release from slavery; release from bondage or servitude; set free.’ (Oxford Dictionary).

The word manumission (release from control/ wilfully set free) refers to the historical action of being released from thralldom or enslavement by the will of the owner or master – voluntarily set free – as distinct from the mandatory enfranchisement and/or affranchisement wrought by emancipation acts of parliaments or other governing councils.

• manumit (tr.v.; manumitted, manumitting, manumits): to free from slavery, servitude or bondage; emancipate; (n.): manumission, manumitter. [Middle English manumitten, from Old French manumitter, from Latin manūmittere, from manū, ablative of manus, ‘hand’ + mittere, ‘to send from’]. ~ (American Heritage Dictionary).

The word manumission (release from control and/or wilfully set free) refers to the historical action of being released from thralldom or enslavement by the will of the owner or master – voluntarily set free – as distinct from the mandatory enfranchisement and/or affranchisement wrought by emancipation acts of parliaments or other governing councils.

• generally, manumission refers to freedom from personal bondage or servitude; the condition of not being confined; liberation;

• specifically, manumission refers to released from slavery (from being owned as property) or servitude (from the state of being a slave or a serf); affranchisement;

• historically, manumission refers to the action of being released from enslavement or thralldom by the will of the owner or master; voluntarily set free as distinct from the mandatory enfranchisement and/ or affranchisement wrought by emancipation acts of parliaments or other governing councils.

It is a very useful word to know as to be manumitted is to be freed: the word freed stresses being autonomous, the complete absence of being ruled; the word autonomous emphasises independence in self-governance (managing, piloting, conducting); the word independence implies a standing alone, a lack of disempowering interference.

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