Definition

Noun: 1. The act of rescuing or being rescued from danger, harm, or an unpleasant situation; liberation. It refers to the state of being saved or set free. 2. (Formal or legal) A formal or authoritative pronouncement, such as a verdict or judgment.

Usage

The word "deliverance" is a formal noun. It is most commonly used to describe the act of rescue or liberation from something negative, such as danger, oppression, or suffering. It often carries a serious or solemn tone.

Examples

1. Rescue or Liberation:

   • The hostages prayed for deliverance from their captors.
   • Many saw the arrival of the aid as a deliverance from famine.
   • The treaty brought deliverance from years of war.

2. Formal Pronouncement:

   • (Legal) The jury's deliverance was "not guilty."
   • We awaited the judge's final deliverance on the matter.

Advanced Usage

• Theological/Religious Context: In religious texts, "deliverance" frequently refers to divine rescue or salvation.
  • The psalm speaks of God's deliverance of the faithful from evil.
• Emphasis on the Result: The word often emphasizes the resulting state of freedom or safety achieved.
  • After the storm passed, the calm felt like a profound deliverance.

Variants and Related Words

• Deliver (verb): To rescue, set free, or hand over.
  • The organization works to deliver supplies to the region.
  • The jury will deliver its verdict tomorrow.
• Deliverer (noun): A person who rescues or saves.

Synonyms

• Rescue: The act of saving someone from a dangerous or distressing situation.
• Salvation: Preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss (often with a spiritual connotation).
• Liberation: The act of setting someone free from imprisonment, oppression, or control.
• Release: The action of setting someone free.

Antonyms

• Captivity: The condition of being imprisoned or confined.
• Endangerment: The state of being exposed to harm or danger.

Idioms and Phrases

• Find deliverance in: To discover rescue or escape through a particular means.
  • The settlers found deliverance in the arrival of spring.
• A deliverance from evil: A phrase often used in religious or moral contexts to describe being saved from sin or wrongdoing.
  • The ritual was seen as a deliverance from evil.

Noun

1. recovery or preservation from loss or danger
   • work is the deliverance of mankind
   • a surgeon's job is the saving of lives