liberate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To acquire from another by theft or force: to steal, to rob.

   We didn't need IDs. We just liberated these beers from the back of the shop.

2. 2
   noun

   A writ issued out of the Chancery for the payment of a pension, debt, the delivery of one's land or goods from a sheriff's custody, the delivery a prisoner put in bail fo appearance or other royal allowance.

   liberate roll

3. 3
   verb

   release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition

4. 4
   verb

   grant freedom to

5. 5
   verb

   give equal rights to

6. 6
   verb

   To set free, to make or allow to be free, particularly

7. 7
   verb

   To acquire from an enemy during wartime, used especially of cities, regions, and other population centers.

8. 8
   adj

   liberated

Etymology

From Middle English liberate (the common first word of such writs), from Medieval Latin līberātum, substantivized from the nominative neuter singular of līberātus, see -ate (noun-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Alternatively, from līberāte, the second-person plural imperative of līberō, compare English allocate (“a warrant for the payment of a pension, allowance, debt, etc.”).