Liberal
['lɪb(ə)r(ə)l] or ['lɪbərəl]
Definition
(noun.) a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties.
(noun.) a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets.
(adj.) tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition .
(adj.) having political or social views favoring reform and progress .
Checked by Jeannette--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) 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.
(a.) Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver.
(a.) 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.
(a.) 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.
(a.) Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.
(a.) Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.
(a.) 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.
(n.) One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.
Checker: Nona
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Generous, bountiful, free, beneficent, munificent, princely, charitable, open-hearted, free-hearted, unselfish, disinterested.[2]. Enlarged, catholic, tolerant, unbigoted, high-minded, magnanimous, honorable, chivalrous.[3]. Large, full, unstinted, abundant, ample, plentiful.
n. Liberalist, advocate of liberal principles.
Editor: Rosalie
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Free, gentle, refined, polished, generous, bountiful, catholic, enlarged,copious, ample, profuse, large, handsome, munificent, abundant, noble-minded,bounteous, tolerant, plentiful
ANT:Churlish, low, mean, boorish, ungenerous, illiberal, grasping, niggardly,avaricious, greedy, gainful, narrow-minded, bigoted, prejudiced, contracted,scanty, inadequate
Checked by Calvin
Definition
adj. becoming a gentleman: generous: noble-minded: candid: free: free from restraint: general extensive.—n. one who advocates greater freedom in political institutions.—n. Liberalisā′tion the process of making liberal.—v.t. Lib′eralise to make liberal or enlightened: to enlarge.—ns. Lib′eralism the principles of a Liberal in politics or religion; Liberal′ity the quality of being liberal: generosity: largeness or nobleness of mind: candour: impartiality.—adv. Lib′erally.—v.t. Lib′erāte to set free: to release from restraint confinement or bondage.—ns. Liberā′tion; Liberā′tionist one who is in favour of church disestablishment; Lib′erātor one who liberates or frees.—adj. Lib′erātory tending to liberate.—Liberal Party the name adopted by the Whigs (1830) to denote the body formed by their union with the Radicals; Liberal Unionist one of that section of the Liberal Party which joined the Conservatives from inability to accede to Mr Gladstone's policy of giving Home Rule to Ireland (1886); German Liberals a party in German politics formed by the amalgamation of the Progressist party and the Liberal union and advocating moderate liberalism in opposition to the policy of Prince Bismarck; National Liberals a party in German politics which before 1871 advocated the completion of governmental unity in Germany as well as supported progressive measures of reform.
Checker: Luther
Examples
- This bank was more liberal than any other had ever been, both in granting cash-accounts, and in discounting bills of exchange. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Sell her her waste, please, and give her good measure if you can make up your mind to do the liberal thing for once. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Her uncle, always liberal, had bought a garden-chair for her express use. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- They are trained in this art from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal education. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- There is a great deal of undeveloped liberal feeling in the world, after all! Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Such conditions also infect the education called liberal, with illiberality. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- All these things do I now think over, adding, He had his faults, yet scarce ever was a finer nature; liberal, suave, impressible. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- As a consequence, the intelligence of those in control of the practical situation is not liberal. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- A system so various in its structure has many contradictory aspects, some very attractive, and some very repellent to a liberal intelligence. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Everything was conducted on the most liberal and delightful scale. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Look at the so-called liberal churches. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Around the sides of the room, bounding this open space, run two tiers of gallery, divided, as is the main floor beneath them; into alcoves of liberal dimensions. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- They estranged all Catholic opinion, as his coronation had estranged all liberal opinion. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Edison has strong convictions on the liberal use of lubricants, but argued that in the ordinary oiling of machinery there is great waste, while much dirt is conveyed into the bearings. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Their charity became gradually less extensive, their hospitality less liberal, or less profuse. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Naturally the British imperialists wanted a subjugated Irish; naturally the English Liberals wanted a free, participating Irish. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
Typed by Debora