a. and sb. Forms: 4–5 liberale, (5 libral), 4–7 liberall(e, 5–6 lyberal(l, 4– liberal. [a. OF. liberal (F. libéral) = Sp., Pg. liberal, It. liberale, ad. L. līberālis pertaining to a free man, f. līber free.]
A. adj.
1. Originally, the distinctive epithet of those ‘arts’ or ‘sciences’ (see ART 7) that were considered ‘worthy of a free man’; opposed to servile or mechanical. In later use, of condition, pursuits, occupations: Pertaining to or suitable to persons of superior social station; ‘becoming a gentleman’ (J.). Now rare, exc. of education, culture, etc., with mixture of senses 3 and 4: Directed to general intellectual enlargement and refinement; not narrowly restricted to the requirements of technical or professional training.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxiv. (Alexis), 111. Þai set hyme ayrly to þe schule, artis liberalis for-thy þat he suld cone.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 144. Libral Sciencis, that is to Say fre seyencis, as gramer, arte, fisike, astronomye, and otheris.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. (Percy Soc.), 62. Physyke can not be lyberall As the vii. science by good auctorite.
1557, 1579. [see ART 7].
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 61. It behooued her to further his Destinies with some good and liberall education.
1638. F. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 232. None among all other liberall arts do require … so great helps.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 209. He made any liberal employment beseem him; reading, writing [etc.].
1680. Evelyn, Diary, 18 April. A painting by Verrio, of Apollo and the Liberal Arts.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. i. 7. Agriculture was held the most liberal employment in old Rome.
1749. Chesterf., Lett. (1792), II. cciii. 272. If you have not … liberal and engaging manners … you will be nobody.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., II. i. Wks. (1812), 256. They are permitted … to emerge out of that low rank into a more liberal condition.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., V. ii. II. 478. The ingenious arts and the liberal professions.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., I. iii. 40. Two centuries back horse-racing was considered as a liberal pastime, practised for pleasure rather than profit.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), I. 342. Rarely met with except in persons of good birth and liberal habits.
1845. Stephen, Comm. Laws Eng. (1874), I. Men of liberal education and respectable rank.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 55. They wandered to countries which neither mercantile avidity nor liberal curiosity had ever impelled any stranger to explore.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., v. 192. The distinction … will always remain as fundamental between the liberal and professional.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 335. The free use of words and phrases … is generally characteristic of a liberal education.
2. Free in bestowing; bountiful, generous, open-hearted. Const. of.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 119. In fiȝtinge he was strong, in giffynge liberal.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 22438. They seyne eke they be lyberal, Though they be streyte and ravynous.
c. 1430. A B C of Aristotle, in Babees Bk., 12. L to looth for to leene, ne to liberal of goodis.
1513. More, in Hall, Chron., Edw. V. (1548), j b. Somwhat aboue his power liberall.
1520. Caxton’s Chron. Eng., IV. 31 b/2. He was full lyberall to all men.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxxi. 23. Who so is liberall in dealynge out his meate, many men shall blesse him.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 438. I see sir you are liberall in offers.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Love’s Pilgr., III. iii. As you are a gentleman, be liberal.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. lxvi. 15 Paraphr. 324. This I will now doe in the liberallest and most magnificent manner.
1785. Cowper, Task, IV. 413. Knaves in office … liberal of their aid To clamorous importunity in rags.
1860. Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., xi. The bearers … are persons to whom you cannot be too liberal.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., v. 124. With Cassio he is patronising, and liberal of his advice.
1886. Ruskin, Præterita, I. vi. 184. Wisely liberal of his money for comfort and pleasure.
absol. 1611. Bible, Isa. xxxii. 8. The liberall deuiseth liberall things, and by liberall things shall hee stand.
1692. Locke, Educ., § 105. Let them find by experience, that the most liberal has always most plenty.
b. Of a gift, offer, etc.: Made without stint. Of a meal, an entertainment, etc., also of a fortune: Abundant, ample.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 425/1. Of the whiche his liberall offre ye said Lords þankid hym.
1513. More, in Hall, Chron., Edw. V. (1548), iij b. Wyth ouer liberall and wanton diet, he waxed somewhat corpulent & bourly.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xx[i]. 3. Thou hast preuented him with liberall blessinges.
1602. Life T. Cromwell, III. i. 97. Therefore, kind sir, thanks for your liberal gift.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 360. The lion, having been lately filled with some liberal prey, did not presently fall to eat him.
1672–5. Comber, Comp. Temple (1702), 332. Some of our liberalest foundations … are of their Erection.
1689. Burnet, Tracts, I. 19. To correct the moisture of the Air with liberal entertainments.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxxiv. ‘A liberal offer’ … said the Host of the Griffin.
1843. R. S. Candlish, in Jean L. Watson, Life, viii. (1882), 88. My cordial thanks for the liberal provision you have made for me.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxxvi. (1856), 327. The men drank it [beer] in most liberal quantities.
c. Hence occas. of outline, parts of the body, etc.: Ample, large.
1616. B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, I. iii. (1631), 109. Against this husband; Who, if we chance to change his liberall eares To other ensignes, and with labour make A new beast of him.
1798. Landor, Gebir, I. 204. More of pleasure than disdain Was in her dimpled chin and liberal lip.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 381. I think I have observed that women of slender frame more often contract renal disease under pregnancy than those of more liberal outline.
† 3. Free from restraint; free in speech or action. In 16–17th c. often in a bad sense: Unrestrained by prudence or decorum, licentious. Liberal arbitre (= F. libéral arbitre, L. liberum arbitrium): free will. Obs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xii. 44. Wyll thou commytte & vndresitte thy lyberal arbytre to thynges Impossyble.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 131. And where there is a quicke wytte & a liberall tong, there is moche speche.
c. 1594. Kyd, Sp. Trag. (1620), I 4. It lyes not in Lorenzos power To stop the vulgar liberall of their tongues.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 93. A ruffian Who hath indeed most like a liberall villaine, Confest the vile encounters they have had. Ibid. (1604), Oth., II. i. 165. Is he not a most prophane, and liberall Counsailor?
1608. Middleton, Fam. Love, V. ii. I stand The theme and comment to each liberal tongue.
1613. Beaum. & Fl., Captain, II. ii. And give allowance to your liberall jests Upon his person.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, III. IX. 469. I shall not … attempt to pass so liberal a judgment upon a person I am, for so many respects, oblig’d to honour.
1689. Wood, Life, 31 Aug. Mr. Henry Dodwell … liberal in his discourse at London, so much that a gent. threatened to bring him into danger.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 79, ¶ 4. The Old Devil at Temple-Bar,… where Ben. Johnson and his Sons used to make their liberal Meetings.
b. Of passage, etc.: Freely permitted, not interfered with. Obs. exc. arch.
1530–1. Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 14. His lyberall and free habytations resortes and passages to and fro the vniuersall places of this realme.
1532. Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 18. Ships should haue their liberall and direct passage in the mids of the streames of the said riuer of Ouse and water of Humber.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, lxviii. 69. He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry.
c. Of construction or interpretation: Inclining to laxity or indulgence; not rigorous. † Also of a translation: Free, not literal.
1778. Jefferson, Autobiog., Wks. 1859, I. 146. I have added Latin, or liberal English translations.
1792. A. Hamilton, Lett. to E. Carrington, Wks. (ed. Lodge), VIII. 264. A disposition on my part towards a liberal construction of the powers of the national government.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 407. The learned Commentator … put a much more liberal construction on the dictum in the Year Book.
† d. With agent-noun: That does something freely or copiously. Obs.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. i. 87. So much … as may suffice a Child that is a liberal Sucker.
4. Free from narrow prejudice; open-minded, candid.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. III. 142. A Grecian philosopher, who visited Constantinople soon after the death of Theodosius, published his liberal opinions concerning the duties of kings.
1803. Med. & Phys. Jrnl., IX. 444. A liberal investigation of the curative power of topical cold to arthritic inflammation.
1817. J. Evans, Excurs. Windsor, etc. 20. The late Dr. Watson … published a liberal reply to the Historian in his Apology for Christianity.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 684. Liberal enquiries into the literature and institutions of the Hindus.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 467. The resentment which Innocent felt towards France, disposed him to take a mild and liberal view of the affairs of England.
b. esp. Free from bigotry or unreasonable prejudice in favor of traditional opinions or established institutions; open to the reception of new ideas or proposals of reform.
Hence often applied as a party designation to those members of a church or religious sect who hold opinions ‘broader’ or more ‘advanced’ than those in accordance with its commonly accepted standard of orthodoxy, e.g., in Liberal Catholic. Liberal Christian: in the U.S. chiefly applied to the Unitarians and Universalists; in England somewhat more vaguely to those who reject or consider unessential any considerable part of the traditional system of belief; so liberal Christianity, liberal theology.
1846. O. W. Holmes, A Rhymed Lesson, 308. Thine eyes behold A cheerful Christian from the liberal fold.
1886. W. P. Roberts, Liberalism in Religion, 56. I maintain that Liberal Protestantism, Liberal Christianity, is not anti-dogmatic, is not anti-theological. Ibid., 59. Now I am positively for dogma, and so I am sure is every Liberal Christian.
1886. W. Barry, in Fortn. Rev., Feb., 185. It would still appear to me … that the Liberal Protestantism of the day is a makeshift.
5. Of political opinions: Favorable to constitutional changes and legal or administrative reforms tending in the direction of freedom or democracy. Hence used as the designation of the party holding such opinions, in England or other states; opposed to Conservative.
In Liberal Conservative, the adj. has rather sense 4 than this sense; the combination, however, is often hyphened, which perhaps indicates that it is interpreted as = ‘partly Liberal, partly Conservative.’ Liberal Unionist: a member of the party formed by those Liberals who refused to support Mr. Gladstone’s measure of Irish Home Rule in 1886.
1801. Hel. M. Williams, Sk. Fr. Rep., I. xi. 113. The extinction of every vestige of freedom, and of every liberal idea with which they are associated.
1842. Cobden, Speech, in Morley, Life, x. (1882), 34/2. I believe the right hon. Baronet [Peel] to be as liberal as the noble Lord [J. Russell].
1847. Ld. Cockburn, Jrnl., II. 191. I have scarcely been able to detect any Candidate’s address which, if professing Conservatism, does not explain that this means ‘Liberal Conservatism.’
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt (1868), 29. Harold meant to stand on the Liberal side.
1879. G. B. Smith, Life Gladstone, I. i. 9. Principles … which we usually associate with the name of Liberal-Conservative.
1881. Lady Herbert, Edith, 190. The Liberal Government had outlived its popularity,—most Governments do after five years.
1899. Ld. Rosebery, in Westm. Gaz., 31 Oct., 2/2. There is no such party known … to the Speaker or the Whips, as the party of the Liberal Imperialists.
1901. Scotsman, 12 March, 6/2. Liberal Unionism is still a vital force in British politics.
6. Comb. as liberal-hearted, -minded, † -talking adjs.; liberal-mindedness.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxv. § 20. The liberall harted man is by the opinion of the prodigall miserable.
1612. N. Field, Woman a Weathercock, III. i. F 1 b. Next to that, the fame, Of your neglect, and liberall talking tongue, Which bred my honour an eternall wrong.
1756. Johnson, in Boswell, Johnson. The booksellers are generous Liberal-minded men.
1818. Shelley, Rev. Islam, Pref. Can he who the day before was a trampled slave suddenly become liberal-minded?
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., Concl. 38. Thou art … liberal-minded, great, Consistent.
1874. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lxxxix. 43. Indifference to all truth under the name of liberal-mindedness, is the crowning virtue of the age.
B. sb.
1. A member of the Liberal party (see A. 5).
a. in continental politics.
1820. Edin. Rev., XXXIV. 3. Our travellers … continue to resort to Paris … and occasionally take part with Ultras or with Liberals.
1823. Southey, in Q. Rev., XXVIII. 496. The Liberals of that day [end of 18th c.] … flew at high game…. There was a scheme for establishing a society of Liberals at Cleves, where … they were to employ themselves in the task of destroying Christianity by means of the press.
1848. W. K. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., I. 52. The part played by the liberals during this time was as follows.
1885. C. Lowe, Bismarck, I. 469. This was evidently the calculation of the Liberals in the Reichstag, when … they began a series of attempts to cobble at the Constitution.
b. in British politics.
Early in the 19th c. the sb. occurs chiefly as applied by opponents to the advanced section of the Whig party: sometimes in Sp. or Fr. form, app. with the intention of suggesting that the principles of those politicians were un-English, or akin to those of the revolutionaries of the Continent. As, however, the adj. was already English in a laudatory sense, the advocates of reform were not reluctant to adopt the foreign term as descriptive of themselves; and when the significance of the old party distinctions was obliterated by the coalition of the moderate Whigs with the Tories and of the advanced Whigs with the Radicals, the new names ‘Liberal’ and ‘Conservative’ took the place of ‘Whig’ and ‘Tory’ as the usual appellations of the two great parties in the state.
[1816. Southey, in Q. Rev., XV. 69. These are the personages for whose sake the continuance of the Alien Bill has been opposed by the British Liberales.
1826. Scott, Jrnl., 19 Nov. Canning, Huskisson, and a mitigated party of Liberaux.
1834. Mar. Edgeworth, Helen, xxxv. III. 66. That one born and bred such an ultra exclusive … should be obliged after her marriage … to open her doors and turn ultra liberale, or an universal suffragist.]
1822. (title) The Liberal. Verse and Prose from the South.
1828. Blackw. Mag., XXIII. 174. What lurking conspirator against the quiet of his native government … has failed to ask and receive the protection of our Liberals?
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiog., II. xi. 77. Newer and more thorough-going Whigs … were known by the name of Radicals, and have since been called … Liberals.
1865. J. S. Mill, in Morn. Star, 6 July. A Liberal is he who looks forward for his principles of government; a Tory looks backward.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. xix. 51. A large number of Liberals were no doubt influenced by this view of the situation.
2. One who holds ‘liberal’ views in theology. Chiefly U.S.
1887. Beacon (Boston U.S.), 8 Jan. In Boston a minister is called a liberal when he rejects the Andover creed, and, perhaps, the Apostles’ Creed.
