Part 6500

<hw>Li"bel*ist</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A libeler.</def>

<h1>Li bella</h1> <Xpage=848>

<hw>Li *bel"la</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., dim. of <ets>libra</ets> balance. See <er>Level</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A small balance.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A level, or leveling instrument.</def>

<h1>Libellulid</h1> <Xpage=848>

<hw>Li*bel"lu*lid</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A dragon fly.</def>

<h1>Libelluloid</h1> <Xpage=848>

<hw>Li*bel"lu*loid</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[NL. <ets>Libellula</ets>, the name of the typical genus + <ets>-oid</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Like or pertaining to the dragon fi<?/es.</def>

<h1>Libelous</h1> <Xpage=848>

<hw>Li"bel*ous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Containing or involving a libel; defamatory; containing that which exposes some person to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule; <as>as, a <ex>libelous</ex> pamphlet</as>.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>libellous</asp>.]</altsp> -- <wordforms><wf>Li"bel*ous*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Liber</h1> <Xpage=848>

<hw>Li"ber</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. See <er>Libel</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>The inner bark of plants, lying next to the wood. It usually contains a large proportion of woody, fibrous cells, and is, therefore, the part from which the fiber of the plant is obtained, as that of hemp, etc.</def>

<cs><col>Liber cells</col>, <cd>elongated woody cells found in the liber.</cd></cs>

<h1>Liberal</h1> <Xpage=848>

<hw>Lib"er*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>lib\'82ral</ets>, L. <ets>liberalis</ets>, from <ets>liber</ets> free; perh. akin to <ets>libet</ets>, <ets>lubet</ets>,it pleases, E. <ets>lief</ets>. Cf. <er>Deliver</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; <as>as, a <ex>liberal</ex> ancestry; a <ex>liberal</ex> spirit; <ex>liberal</ex> arts or studies.</as></def> " <i>Liberal</i> education." <i>Macaulay</i>. " A <i>liberal</i> tongue."

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; <as>as, a <ex>liberal</ex> giver</as>.</def> " <i>Liberal</i> of praise."

<i>Bacon.</i>

<blockquote>Infinitely good, and of his good As <b>liberal</b> and free as infinite. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; <as>as, a <ex>liberal</ex> gift; a <ex>liberal</ex> discharge of matter or of water.</as></def>

<blockquote>His wealth doth warrant a <b>liberal</b> dower. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; <as>as, a <ex>liberal</ex> translation of a classic, or a <ex>liberal</ex> construction of law or of language</as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.</def> " Most like a <i>liberal</i> villain."

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>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>as, <ex>liberal</ex> thinkers; <ex>liberal</ex> Christians; the <ex>Liberal</ex> party.</as></def>

<blockquote>I confess I see nothing <b>liberal</b> in this " order of thoughts," as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it. <i>Hazlitt.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; <i>Liberal</i> has of, sometimes <i>with</i>, before the thing bestowed, <i>in</i> before a word signifying action, and <i>to</i> before a person or object on which anything is bestowed; as, to be <i>liberal</i> of praise or censure; <i>liberal with</i> money; <i>liberal in</i> giving; <i>liberal</i> to the poor.</note>