LIBERAL
1. Originally, the distinctive epithet of those 'arts' or 'sciences' (see ART 7) that were considered 'worthy of a free manÕ; 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. Freq. in liberal arts.
1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxiv. (Alexis) 111 ai set hyme ayrly to e schule, artis liberalis for-thy at he suld cone. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 144 Libral Sciencis, that is to Say fre scyencis, 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. a1661 FULLER Worthies (1840) III. 209 He made any liberal employment beseem him; reading, writing [etc.]. 1680 EVELYN Diary 18 Apr., 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 CHESTERFIELD Lett. (1792) II. cciii. 272 If you have not..liberal and engaging manners..you will be nobody. 1753 W. SHIPLEY in D. G. C. Allan William Shipley (1968) 229 (title) Proposals for raising by subscription a fund to be distributed in premiums for the promoting of improvements in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, Manufactures, etc. 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. 1 Men of liberal eduction 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. 1906 P. ABELSON (title) The seven liberal arts, a study in medi¾val culture. 1950 E. H. GOMBRICH Story of Art xv. 215 The so-called Liberal Arts such as rhetorics, grammar, philosophy and dialectic. 1951 [see CLINIC n.2 3]. 1961 New Scientist 16 Mar. 662/1 The better public schools..should be converted to liberal-arts colleges on the American pattern. 1965 Listener 11 Mar. 387/2 (Advt.), The major part of the work will be teaching Sociology,..but appropriately qualified candidates will be expected to teach Liberal studies. 1973 Jrnl. Genetic Psychol. CXXII. 183 The educational problems of the troubled liberal arts college student.
2. a. Free in bestowing; bountiful, generous, open-hearted.
TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VII. 119 In fitinge he was strong, in giffynge liberal. 1426 LYDG. De Guil. Pilgr. 22438 They seyne eke they be lyberal, Though they be streyte and ravynous. c1430 ABC 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) jb, Somwhat aboue his power liberall. 1520 Caxton's Chron. Eng. IV. 31b/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 SHAKES. Merch. V. IV. i. 438, I see sir you are liberall in offers. a1625 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 Pr¾terita I. vi. 184 Wisely liberal of his money for comfort and pleasure. 1611 BIBLE Isa. xxxii. 8 The liberall deuiseth liberall things. 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 ankid hym. 1513 MORE in Hall Chron., Edw. V (1548) iijb, 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 T. 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 offerÕ..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.
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.a. 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. libˇral arbitre, L. liberum arbitrium): free will. Obs.
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. c1594 KYD Sp. Trag. (1620) I4 It lyes not in Lorenzos power To stop the vulgar liberall of their tongues. 1599 SHAKES. Much Ado IV. i. 93 A ruffian Who hath indeed most like a liberall villaine, Confest the vile encounters they have had. 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 tr. Catullus lxviii. 69 He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry.
c. Of a translation: Free, not literal. or of a political interpretation:
JEFFERSON Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 146, I have added Latin, or liberal English translations. 1792 A. HAMILTON Let. 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.
4. a. Free from narrow prejudice; open-minded, candid.
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. 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 favour 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. Also in application to Judaism. (title) The liberal Christian. 1828 (title) Which society shall you join, liberal or orthodox? 1846 O. W. HOLMES A Rhymed Lesson 308 Thine eyes behold A cheerful Christian from the liberal fold. 1862 Dublin Rev. Nov. 48 Our friends the 'liberal' Catholics may be interested in a note to F. Faber's treatise. 1876 O. B. FROTHINGHAM Transcendentalism New Eng. vi. 128 It may be inferred that Transcendentalism in New England was a movement within the limits of 'liberal' Christianity or Unitarianism as it was called. 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. 1900 Jewish Q. Rev. July 618 (heading) Liberal Judaism in England. Ibid., These liberal Jews have no organization. 1920 R. MACAULAY Potterism VI. v. 253 Modernist liberal-catholic vicars asked him to preach. 1957 Oxf. Dict. Chr. Ch. 807/1 The 'Liberal Catholics' who formed a distinguished group in the RC Church in the 19th cent. were for the most part theologically orthodox, but they favoured political democracy and ecclesiastical reform... 'Liberal ProtestantismÕ..developed into an anti-dogmatic and humanitarian reconstruction of the Christian faith. 1965 Sunday Times 5 Feb. 5/3 A plan for a national conference of non-orthodox synagogues, Reform (progressive) and Liberal. 1968 B. M. G. REARDON (title) Liberal Protestantism. 1974 Times Lit. Suppl. 19 Apr. 424/4 Judaism is divided into Orthodox, Conservative and Reform varieties following the American terminology, and not into the British Orthodox, Reform and Liberal camps.
5. Of political opinions: Favourable 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. Liberal-Labour, of or pertaining to (persons associated with or sympathetic to) both the Liberal and the Labour parties. So Liberal Labourism.
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.
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 ConservatismÕ. 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 M. E. HERBERT Edith 190 The Liberal Government had outlived its popularity. 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 Mar. 6/2 Liberal Unionism is still a vital force in British politics. 1909 Daily Chron. 14 July 1/7 Mr. Hancock, the Liberal-Labour candidate for Mid-Derbyshire. 1929 M. BEER Hist. Brit. Socialism (new ed.) II. IV. xvi. 315 In 1898 Gladstone died, and with him one of the main pillars of Liberal Labourism disappeared from British politics.