free-livern.
/ˌfriːˈlɪvə/, U.S. /ˌfriˈlɪvər/ A person who lives freely; a person who gives free indulgence to his or her appetites.
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society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [noun] > person
ribald1340
shaker?a1500
whipster1593
Cyprian1598
wantoner1665
free-liver1711
rep1747
loose fish1809
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. v. iii. 306 Those naturally honest Appellations of Free-Livers, Free-Thinkers..or whatever other Character implies a Largeness of Mind and generous Use of Understanding.
1749 S. Richardson Let. 21 Jan. in Sel. Lett. (1964) 124 Rakes and Free-livers..are jealous of their Prerogatives.
1799 E. Helme Albert II. xxi. 223 That Berners is a libertine, a gamester,..and a free liver.
1806 ‘Ignotus’ Culina (ed. 3) 53 This is a good..dish, for free-livers.
1876 Times 8 July 13/5 It appeared in cross-examination that he had always been a ‘free liver’ and accustomed to drink, though not, they said, to excess.
1922 C. M. Depew My Memories of Eighty Years iv. 73 Nye was a free liver, though not a dissipated man.
1996 USA Today (Nexis) 14 June 4 d She definitely conveys the uncertainties her character would reasonably experience in a household of free-livers who are almost urging her to scuttle her virginity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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