Both Uses of
redeem
in
Twelfth Night
- This was looked for at your hand, and this was baulked: the double gilt of this opportunity you let time wash off, and you are now sailed into the north of my lady's opinion; where you will hang like an icicle on Dutchman's beard, unless you do redeem it by some laudable attempt either of valour or policy.†
Scene 3.2 *
- A witchcraft drew me hither: That most ingrateful boy there, by your side From the rude sea's enraged and foamy mouth Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was: His life I gave him, and did thereto add My love, without retention or restraint, All his in dedication: for his sake, Did I expose myself, pure for his love, Into the danger of this adverse town; Drew to defend him when he was beset: Where being apprehended, his false cunning,— Not meaning to partake with me in danger,— Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance, And grew a twenty-years-removed thing While one would wink; denied me mine own purse, Which I had recommended to his use Not half an hour before.†
Scene 5.1
Definitions:
-
(1)
(redeem as in: its main redeeming quality is...) to make up for something bad; or to save
-
(2)
(redeem as in: redeem the coupon) exchange, convert, or pay offThe exact meaning of redeem can depend upon its context. For example:
- "to redeem a coupon" -- exchange something for something else of value
- "to redeem stock" -- sell or convert to cash
- "to redeem a mortgage" -- pay off a loan
-
(3)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) In Christianity, redemption is used to reference Jesus' sacrifice to make up for human sin.
Old usage (as might be found in the Bible or in Shakespeare) also uses redeeming time to refer to making the best use of time.