Part 674

Shak.

4. A defamatory name for a freethinker. [Obsoles.]

Lib"er*tine, a. [L. libertinus of a freedman: cf. F. libertin. See Libertine, n. ] 1. Free from restraint; uncontrolled. [Obs.]

You are too much libertine.

Beau. & Fl.

2. Dissolute; licentious; profligate; loose in morals; as, libertine principles or manners. Bacon.

Lib"er*tin*ism (-tn*z'm), n. 1. The state of a libertine or freedman. [R.] Hammond.

2. Licentious conduct; debauchery; lewdness.

3. Licentiousness of principle or opinion.

That spirit of religion and seriousness vanished all at once, and a spirit of liberty and libertinism, of infidelity and profaneness, started up in the room of it.

Atterbury.

Lib"er*ty (lb"r*t), n.; pl. Liberties (- tz). [OE. liberte, F. liberté, fr. L. libertas, fr. liber free. See Liberal.] 1. The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; -- opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection.

But ye . . . caused every man his servant, and every 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 glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Bible, 1551. Rom. viii. 21.

2. Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion.

Being pent from liberty, as I am now.

Shak.

3. A privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as, liberty given to a child 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; much less did he grant . . . any extraordinary liberties.

Sir J. Davies.

5. The place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised. [Eng.]

Brought forth into some public or open place within the liberty of the city, and there . . . burned.

Fuller.

6. A certain amount of freedom; permission to go freely within certain limits; also, the place 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.