Definition of "emancipist" [e•man•ci•pist]

• In penal colonies of early Australia, a convict who had been pardoned for good conduct; sometimes inclusively a convict whose sentence had completed, though one such was more usually called an expiree. (noun)

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• "There is much jealousy between the children of the rich emancipist and the free settlers, the former being pleased to consider honest men as interlopers."
• "It will, however, take a number of years to clear the Colony of the half-reformed villain who still hankers after his old ways, -- of the _emancipist_, whom the law looks upon as a reformed character, but whom experience has taught the world to look upon with a very different eye, -- and of the convicts for life, who still amount to thousands."
• "During the government of Sir Richard Bourke, an attempt was made by him to introduce into his own parties some emancipist families; and on one occasion, the grand-daughter of a late Sydney hangman actually made her appearance at a ball at Government-house."