- exempt (adj.)
- late 14c., from L. exemptus, pp. of eximere "release, remove," from ex- "out" + emere "buy," originally "take," from PIE base *em- "to take" (cf. O.C.S. imo "to take," Lith. imui, Skt. yamati "holds, subdues"). For sense shift from "take" to "buy," compare O.E. sellan "to give," source of Mod. Eng. sell "to give in exchange for money;" Heb. laqah "he bought," originally "he took;" and colloquial Eng. I'll take it for "I'll buy it."
- exempt (v.)
- mid-15c., from M.Fr. exempter, from exempt (adj.); see exempt (adj.). Related: Exempted; exempting.