I. A buying back, buying off; a releasing, ransoming, redemption: “cum captivis redemptio negabatur,” Liv. 25, 6: “ducis (capti),” Quint. 7, 1, 29: “puellae,” Val. Max. 4, 3, 1: sacramenti, i. e. the purchase of one's military oath, i. e. of his discharge, Auct. B. Alex. 56, 4 (cf. id. ib. 55, 4: qui se pecuniā redemerunt).— Absol.: quia mercede pactā accesserat ad talem redemptionem, i. e. a releasing or release of the debtor from the demand, by paying the creditor, Dig. 17, 1, 6 fin.; v. redemptor.—
II. A buying up of a court of justice, bribing: “judicii,” Cic. Verr. 1, 6, 16. — Plur. and absol.: “reorum pactiones, redemptiones,” Cic. Pis. 36, 87.—
III. A farming of the revenue, Cic. Prov. Cons. 5, 11.—
IV. Esp. (eccl. Lat.), a release from sin or from its penalties, a rescuing from death, etc.: “animae suae,” Vulg. Psa. 48, 8; absol., id. Eph. 1, 7.