mancipation

noun

man·​ci·​pa·​tion
plural -s
1
obsolete
a
: the act of enslaving
b
: involuntary servitude : slavery
2
Roman law
a
: an early form of ceremonial conveyance under the jus civile involving the balance scales, bronze money, a balance holder, and five citizens as witnesses in which persons and property (as Italic lands, slaves, beasts of burden, rural praedial servitudes, children under potestas, and various women) subject to the ceremony were transferred by one Roman citizen into the power and control of another compare mancipium

Word History

Etymology

Latin mancipation-, mancipatio, from mancipatus + -ion-, -io -ion

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Cite this Entry

“Mancipation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mancipation. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

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