At first fully repressed, emerging eventually liberated (4)
I believe the answer is:
free
'liberated' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'at first fully repressed emerging eventually' is the wordplay.
'at first' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'fully repressed emerging eventually' is 'FREE'.
(Other definitions for free that I've seen before include "See 8" , "Type of tenure" , "See 18" , "Out of bondage" , "Unfettered" .)