Redemption is being bought back from sin or ruin. Seek redemption, a story of redemption, beyond redemption.
In Christian theology it is the central idea: humanity bought back at a price. In ordinary use, a redemption story is one in which somebody wrongs and then makes good, and it is among the most durable shapes in fiction. Beyond redemption means past saving. In finance, redemption is paying off a debt or cashing in a bond. Note redeem, redeemable; and redeeming feature, meaning the one good thing.
1nounredemptionBeing bought back from sin or ruin.
“The film tells the story of a thief's redemption through his kindness to a child.”
2nounpayingThe paying off of a debt or cashing in of a bond.
“The bank charges a fee for early redemption of the mortgage.”
redemption is a buying back.
Latin redemptio comes from redimere — red-, back, plus emere, to buy. Redemption is literally buying back, which is why the theological and the financial senses are the same word rather than a metaphor.
Latin
redemptio
Old French
redemption
Middle English
redempcioun
English, today
redemption
From Middle English redempcioun, from Old French redemption, from Latin redemptio. a doublet of ransom. Displaced native Old English ālīesung, ālīesnes.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Belief & Ritual