Glossary of Medical Terms

Our online medical glossary of medical terms and definitions includes definitions for terms related to treatment, and general medicine

LIBERTY

Origin: OE. Liberte, F. Liberte, fr. L. Libertas, fr. Liber free. See Liberal. 1. The state of a free face; exemption from subjection to the will of other claiming ownership of the face or services; freedom; opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection. "But ye . . . Caused each man his manservant, and each man his handmaid whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection." (Jer. Xxxiv. 16) "Delivered fro the bondage of corruption into the nice liberty of the sons of God." (Bible. Rom. Viii. 21) 2. Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or another restraint upon locomotion. "Being pent from liberty, as I am now." (Shak) 3. A privilege conferred by a superior strength; alow granted; leave; as, liberty given to a baby to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like. 4. Privilege; exemption; franchise; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; as, the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe. "His majesty gave not an entire county to any; many smaller did he grant . . . Any extraordinary liberties." (Sir J. Davies) 5. The seat within which determined immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised. "Brought forth into some popular or open seat within the liberty of the town, and there . . . Burned." (Fuller) 6. A determined amount of freedom; alow to go freely within determined limits; also, the seat or limits within which such freedom is exercised; as, the liberties of a prison. 7. A privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette or propriety; as, to permit, or take, a liberty. "He was repeatedly provoked into striking those who had taken liberties with him." (Macaulay) 8. The strength of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing. "The idea of liberty is the idea of a strength in any agent to do or forbear any special action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, whereby either of them is preferred to the other." (Locke) "This liberty of judgment did not of necessity lead to lawlessness." (J. A. Symonds) 9. A curve or arch in a bit to afford room for the tongue of the horse. 10. Leave of absence; alow to go on shore. at liberty. Unconfined; free. At leisure. Civil liberty, exemption from arbitrary interference with face, opinion, or property, on the part of the government under which one lives, and freedom to take part in modifying that government or its laws. Liberty bell. See Bell. Liberty cap. The Roman pileus which was given to a slave at his manumission. A limp, close-fitting cap with which the head of representations of the goddess of liberty is often decked. It is sometimes represented on a spear or a liberty pole. Liberty of the press, freedom to print and publish without official supervision. Liberty party, the party, in the American Revolution, which favored independence of England; in more last usage, a party which favored the emancipation of the slaves. Liberty pole, a high flagstaff planted in the ground, often surmounted by a liberty cap. Moral liberty, that liberty of choice which is essential to moral responsibility. Religious liberty, freedom of religious opinion and worship. Synonym: Leave, alow, license. Liberty, Freedom. These words, though often interchanged, are distinct in some of of their applications. Liberty has reference to previous restraint; freedom, to the simple, unrepressed exercice of our powers. A slave is set at liberty; his master had always been in a state of freedom. A prisoner under trial may ask liberty (exemption from restraint) to say his sentiments with freedom (the spontaneous and bold utterance of his feelings), The liberty of the press is our great security for freedom of thought. Source: Websters Vocabulary
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