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at liberty
lib·er·ty L0150100 (lĭb′ər-tē)n. pl. lib·er·ties 1. The condition of being free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor.2. a. The condition of being free from oppressive restriction or control by a government or other power.b. A right to engage in certain actions without control or interference by a government or other power: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.3. The right or power to act as one chooses: "Her upcountry isolation ... gave her the liberty to be what she wanted to be, free of the pressure of spotlights and literary fashions" (Lucinda Franks).4. often liberties A deliberate departure from what is proper, accepted, or prudent, especially:a. A breach or overstepping of propriety or social convention: "I'd leave her with a little kiss on the cheek—I never took liberties" (Harold Pinter).b. A departure from strict compliance: took several liberties with the recipe.c. A deviation from accepted truth or known fact: a historical novel that takes liberties with chronology.d. An unwarranted risk; a chance: took foolish liberties on the ski slopes.5. A period, usually short, during which a sailor is authorized to go ashore.Idioms: at liberty1. Not in confinement or under constraint; free.2. Entitled or permitted to do something: We found ourselves at liberty to explore the grounds. take the liberty To dare (to do something) on one's own initiative or without asking permission: I took the liberty to send you these pictures of my vacation.
[Middle English liberte, from Old French, from Latin lībertās, from līber, free; see leudh- in Indo-European roots.]at liberty
at libertyFreely able to do something. I know you're curious about the case, but I'm not at liberty to talk about it.See also: libertyat libertyfree; unrestrained. The criminal was set at liberty by the judge. You're at liberty to go anywhere you wish. I'm not at liberty to discuss the matter.See also: libertyat libertyFree, not obligated; also, not occupied. For example, I am not at liberty to tell you the whole story, or " I ... washed when there was a basin at liberty" (Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847). This idiom is often used in a negative context, as in the first example. [First half of 1800s] See also: libertyat ˈliberty (to do something) (formal) having permission to do something: You are at liberty to leave, if you wish.See also: liberty at liberty1. Not in confinement or under constraint; free.2. Entitled or permitted to do something: We found ourselves at liberty to explore the grounds.See also: libertyEncyclopediaSeelibertyLegalSeeLiberty |