catflap.org Online Dictionary Query


Query string:
Search type:
Database:

Database copyright information
Server information


8 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Liberal \Lib"er*al\ (l[i^]b"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lib['e]ral, L.
     liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet, it
     pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.]
     1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman;
        refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean;
        as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or
        studies. `` Liberal education.'' --Macaulay. `` A liberal
        tongue.'' --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman;
        generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. ``
        Liberal of praise.'' --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Infinitely good, and of his good
              As liberal and free as infinite.      --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient;
        abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a
        liberal discharge of matter or of water.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the
        literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a
        classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in
        spirit; catholic.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint;
        licentious. `` Most like a liberal villain.'' --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in
        political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion;
        not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the
        constitution or administration of government; having
        tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished
        from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal
        thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I confess I see nothing liberal in this `` order of
              thoughts,'' as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it.
                                                    --Hazlitt.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing
           bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to
           before a person or object on which anything is
           bestowed; as, to be liberal of praise or censure;
           liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the
           poor.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     The liberal arts. See under Art.
  
     Liberal education, education that enlarges and disciplines
        the mind and makes it master of its own powers,
        irrespective of the particular business or profession one
        may follow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample;
          large; profuse; free.
  
     Usage: Liberal, Generous. Liberal is freeborn, and
            generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the
            ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies
            largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc.
            The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is
            peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, -- a
            spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment
            in consulting the feelings and happiness of others.
            Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices
            it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which
            it manifests.
            [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Liberal \Lib"er*al\ (l[i^]b"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lib['e]ral, L.
     liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet, it
     pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.]
     1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman;
        refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean;
        as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or
        studies. `` Liberal education.'' --Macaulay. `` A liberal
        tongue.'' --Shak.
  
     2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman;
        generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. ``
        Liberal of praise.'' --Bacon.
  
              Infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free
              as infinite.                          --Milton.
  
     3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient;
        abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a
        liberal discharge of matter or of water.
  
              His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. --Shak.
  
     4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the
        literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a
        classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
  
     5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in
        spirit; catholic.
  
     6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint;
        licentious. `` Most like a liberal villain.'' --Shak.
  
     7. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in
        political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion;
        not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the
        constitution or administration of government; having
        tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished
        from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal
        thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
  
              I confess I see nothing liberal in this `` order of
              thoughts,'' as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it.
                                                    --Hazlitt.
  
     Note: Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing
           bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to
           before a person or object on which anything is
           bestowed; as, to be liberal of praise or censure;
           liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the
           poor.
  
     The liberal arts. See under Art.
  
     Liberal education, education that enlarges and disciplines
        the mind and makes it master of its own powers,
        irrespective of the particular business or profession one
        may follow.
  
     Syn: Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample;
          large; profuse; free.
  
     Usage: Liberal, Generous. Liberal is freeborn, and
            generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the
            ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies
            largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc.
            The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is
            peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, -- a
            spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment
            in consulting the feelings and happiness of others.
            Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices
            it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which
            it manifests.

From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) :   [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]

  liberal education
     n.
     (lb en education) (synonym of en general education)

From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) :   [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]

  liberal education
     n.
     (lb en education) (synonym of en general education)

From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) :   [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]

  liberal education
     n.
     (lb en education) (synonym of en general education)

From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) :   [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]

  liberal education
     n.
     (lb en education) (synonym of en general education)

From English-Hungarian FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.2.1 :   [ freedict:eng-hun ]

  liberal education /lˈɪbəɹəl ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən/
  általános mûveltségre való nevelés

From XDICT the English-Chinese dictionary :   [ xdict ]

     文科教育

Questions or comments about this site? Contact dictionary@catflap.org
Access Stats