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.]

liberty

(ˈlɪbətɪ) n, pl -ties1. the power of choosing, thinking, and acting for oneself; freedom from control or restriction2. the right or privilege of access to a particular place; freedom3. (often plural) a social action regarded as being familiar, forward, or improper4. (often plural) an action that is unauthorized or unwarranted in the circumstances: he took liberties with the translation. 5. (Nautical Terms) a. authorized leave granted to a sailorb. (as modifier): liberty man; liberty boat. 6. at liberty free, unoccupied, or unrestricted7. take liberties to be overfamiliar or overpresumptuous (with)8. take the liberty to venture or presume (to do something)[C14: from Old French liberté, from Latin lībertās, from līber free]

lib•er•ty

(ˈlɪb ər ti)

n., pl. -ties. 1. freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control. 2. freedom from external or foreign rule; independence. 3. freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, etc. 4. freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint. 5. a. permission granted to a sailor to go ashore, usu. for less than 24 hours. b. the time spent ashore. 6. freedom or right to frequent or use a place: The visitors were given the liberty of the city. 7. unwarranted or impertinent freedom in action or speech, or a form or instance of it: to take liberties. 8. a female figure personifying freedom from despotism. Idioms: at liberty, a. free from captivity or restraint. b. free to do or be as specified. [1325–75; Middle English liberte < Middle French < Latin lībertās=līber free + -tās -ty²]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	liberty - immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independenceautonomyself-determination, self-government, self-rule - government of a political unit by its own peopleindependence, independency - freedom from control or influence of another or others
	2.	liberty - freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"freedom - the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraintslicence, license - freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)latitude - freedom from normal restraints in conduct; "the new freedom in movies and novels"; "allowed his children considerable latitude in how they spent their money"licence, license - excessive freedom; lack of due restraint; "when liberty becomes license dictatorship is near"- Will Durant; "the intolerable license with which the newspapers break...the rules of decorum"- Edmund Burkediscretion - freedom to act or judge on one's ownrun - unrestricted freedom to use; "he has the run of the house"
	3.	liberty - personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppressionfreedom - the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
	4.	liberty - leave granted to a sailor or naval officershore leaveleave, leave of absence - the period of time during which you are absent from work or duty; "a ten day's leave to visit his mother"
	5.	liberty - an act of undue intimacy indecorum, impropriety, familiaritymisbehavior, misbehaviour, misdeed - improper or wicked or immoral behavior

liberty

noun1. independence, sovereignty, liberation, autonomy, immunity, self-determination, emancipation, self-government, self-rule Such a system would be a blow to the liberty of the people.2. freedom, liberation, redemption, emancipation, deliverance, manumission, enfranchisement, unshackling, unfettering Three convictions meant three months' loss of liberty.
freedom restraint, constraint, slavery, imprisonment, captivity, tyranny, enslavement, restriction, duressat liberty3. free, escaped, unlimited, at large, not confined, untied, on the loose, unchained, unbound There is no confirmation that he is at liberty.4. able, free, allowed, permitted, entitled, authorized I'm not at liberty to say where it is, because the deal hasn't gone through yet.take liberties or a liberty not show enough respect, show disrespect, act presumptuously, behave too familiarly, behave impertinently She knew she was taking a big liberty in doing this for him without his knowledge.Quotations
"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" [Patrick Henry]
"Liberty is liberty, not equality or fairness or justice or human happiness or a quiet conscience" [Isaiah Berlin Two Concepts of Liberty]
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure" [Thomas Jefferson]
"Liberty is precious - so precious that it must be rationed" [Lenin]
"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it" [George Bernard Shaw Man and Superman]
"Liberty too must be limited in order to be possessed" [Edmund Burke Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol]
"The liberty of the individual must be thus far limited; he must not make himself a nuisance to other people" [John Stuart Mill On Liberty]

liberty

noun1. The state of not being in confinement or servitude:emancipation, freedom, liberation, manumission.2. The condition of being politically free:autonomy, freedom, independence, independency, self-government, sovereignty.3. Departure from normal rules or procedures:freedom, license.

Translations

不受关押或奴役的状态做某事的合法权利或行动自由冒昧失禮自由

liberty

(ˈlibəti) noun1. freedom from captivity or from slavery. He ordered that all prisoners should be given their liberty. 自由（不受关押或奴役的状态） 2. freedom to do as one pleases. Children have a lot more liberty now than they used to. 自由（做某事的合法权利或行动自由） 3. (especially with take) too great freedom of speech or action. I think it was (taking) a liberty to ask her such a question! 冒昧，失禮（做某事的合法权利或行动自由） ˈliberties noun plural privileges, rights etc. civil liberties. 特权，权力 take the liberty of to do without permission. I took the liberty of moving the papers from your desk – I hope you don't mind.擅自做某事

Liberty

The state of being free; enjoying various social, political, or economic rights and privileges The concept of liberty forms the core of all democratic principles. Yet, as a legal concept, it defies clear definition.

The modern conception of liberty as implying certain fundamental or basic rights dates back to the writings of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century theorists such as Francis Hutcheson and John Locke. Hutcheson believed that all people are equal and that they possess certain basic rights that are conferred by Natural Law. Locke postulated that humans are born with an innate tendency to be reasonable and tolerant. He also believed that all individuals are entitled to liberty under the natural law that governed them before they formed societies. Locke's concept of natural law required that no one should interfere with another's life, health, liberty, or possessions. According to Locke, governments are necessary only to protect those who live within the laws of nature from those who do not. For this reason, he believed that the power of government and the rule of the majority must be kept in check, and that they are best controlled by protecting and preserving individual liberties. Locke's philosophies gave rise to the Separation of Powers and the system of checks and balances that are the basis of U.S. government.Limitless freedom is untenable in a peaceful and orderly society. Yet, the founders of the United States were concerned that individual liberty interests be adequately protected. Echoing Locke's natural-law theory, the Declaration of Independence states that all people have inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Similarly, the Preamble to the Constitution outlines the Framers' intent to establish a government structure that ensures freedom from oppression. It reads, in part, "We the People … in Order to … secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…." The Bill of Rights sets forth a number of specific protections of individual liberties.

Through these documents, U.S. citizens are guaranteed Freedom of Speech, press, assembly, and religion; freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; and freedom from Slavery or involuntary servitude. Criminal law and procedure require that a person may not be detained unlawfully and that a person who is accused of a crime is entitled to reasonable bail and a Speedy Trial. The right to be free from unlawful detention has been interpreted to mean not only that the government may not deprive a person of liberty without Due Process of Law, but also that a citizen has a right "to be free in the enjoyment of all his faculties; to be free to use them in all lawful ways; to live and work where he will; to earn his living by any lawful calling; and to pursue any livelihood or vocation" (Allgeyer v. Louisiana, 165 U.S. 578, 17 S. Ct. 427, 41 L. Ed. 832 [1897]). State governments may not regulate individual freedom except for a legitimate public purpose and only by means that are rationally designed to achieve that purpose (see Nebbia v. New York, 291 U.S. 502, 54 S. Ct. 505, 78 L. Ed. 940 [1934]).

The liberties guaranteed to individuals are not granted without restriction. Throughout U.S. history, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that individual freedom may be restricted when necessary to advance a compelling government interest, such as public safety, national security, or the protection of the rights of others. Countless cases have litigated the parameters of justifiable government restriction. In one such case, Perry Education Ass'n v. Perry Local Educators' Ass'n, 460 U.S. 37, 103 S. Ct. 948, 74 L. Ed. 2d 794 (1983), the Court found that the content of a message delivered in a public forum may be restricted if the restriction serves a compelling state interest and is narrowly drawn to achieve that interest. Restrictions on speech in a public forum also may be upheld if the expressive activity being regulated is a of type that is not entitled to full First Amendment protection, such as Obscenity. If a restriction on speech deals only with the time, place, and manner of the activity, it need only serve a significant government interest and allow ample alternative channels of communication (see Perry). In such an instance, the law does not need to be the least restrictive alternative; it is necessary only that the government's interest would be achieved less effectively without it and that the means chosen are not substantially broader than necessary to achieve the interest (Ward v. Rock against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 109 S. Ct. 2746, 105 L. Ed. 2d 661 [1989]).

The Court has held that the government may infringe on a person's freedom of association by punishing membership in an organization that advocates illegal conduct if the defendant had knowledge of the group's illegal objectives and had the Specific Intent to further them (see Scales v. United States, 367 U.S. 203, 81 S. Ct. 1469, 6 L. Ed. 2d 782 [1961]; Noto v. United States, 367 U.S. 290, 81 S. Ct. 1517, 6 L. Ed. 2d 836 [1961]).

The Court has also determined that when competing liberty interests clash, the majority may not necessarily impose its belief on the minority. In abington school district v. schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 83 S. Ct. 1560, 10 L. Ed. 2d 844 (1963), the Court held that the freedom to exercise one's religion does not extend to prayer sessions in public schools, even if the proposed prayer is nondenominational and favored by the majority. Justice tom c. clark, writing for the majority, emphasized that the freedom to exercise one's religion ends when it infringes on another's right to be free from state-imposed religious practices. He wrote, "While the Free Exercise Clause clearly prohibits the use of State Action to deny the rights of free exercise to anyone, it has never meant that a majority could use the machinery of the State to practice its beliefs." The Court reaffirmed its holding that the Free Exercise Clause does not allow the majority to impose its beliefs on the minority in wallace v. jaffree, 472 U.S. 38, 105 S. Ct. 2479, 86 L. Ed. 2d 29 (1985).

The Court has engendered bitter and sustained controversy with its defense of privacy rights in cases such as roe v. wade, 410 U.S. 113, 93 S. Ct. 705, 35 L. Ed. 2d 147 (1973), which found the constitutional right to privacy to include the right to obtain an Abortion. Critics of such decisions contend that such liberties are not enumerated in the Constitution and that the Court should uphold only rights found in the Constitution. But the Court has consistently held that the liberties enumerated in the Constitution are a continuum that, in the words of Justice John Marshall Harlan, "includes a freedom from all substantial Arbitrary impositions and purposeless restraints … and which also recognizes … that certain interests require particularly careful scrutiny of the state needs asserted to justify their abridgement" (Poe v. Ullman, 367 U.S. 497, 81 S. Ct. 1752, 6 L. Ed. 2d 989 [1961]).

The Court justified its findings of liberty rights that are not enumerated in the Constitution by stating that some rights are basic and fundamental, and that the government has a duty to protect those rights. It has held that the Constitution outlines a "realm of personal liberty which the government may not enter." As an example, it noted that marriage is not mentioned in the Bill of Rights and that interracial marriage was illegal in many places during the nineteenth century, but that the Court has rightly found these activities to be within the liberty interests guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Court has repeatedly held that individual liberties must be protected no matter how repugnant some find the activity or individual involved. For example, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 112 S. Ct. 2791, 120 L. Ed. 28 674 (1992), the Court stated, "Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that cannot control our decision. Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code." In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624, 63 S. Ct. 1178, 87 L. Ed. 1628 (1943), the Court invalidated a law mandating that all students salute the flag, and in texas v. johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 109 S. Ct. 2533, 105 L. Ed. 2d 342 (1989), it invalidated a law prohibiting burning of the flag. In all of these cases, the Court emphasized that individuals may disagree about whether the activity is morally acceptable, but the liberty inherent in the activity may not be proscribed even if a majority of the populace thinks that it should be.

Justice louis d. brandeis summarized the Court's general wariness of government intrusion into liberty interests, in Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357, 47 S. Ct. 641, 71 L. Ed. 1095 (1927): "Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the state was to make men free." The Court will continue to grapple with the extent to which organized society may restrict individual liberty without violating that mandate.

Cross-references

Constitution of the United States; Criminal Procedure; Freedom of Speech; Freedom of the Press; School Prayer.

liberty

n. freedom from restraint and the power to follow one's own will to choose a course of conduct. Liberty, like freedom, has its inherent restraint to act without harm to others and within the accepted rules of conduct for the benefit of the general public.

LIBERTY. Freedom from restraint. The power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature.
2. Liberty is divided into civil, natural, personal, and political.
3. Civil liberty is the power to do whatever is permitted by the constitution of the state and the laws of the land. It is no other than natural liberty, so far restrained by human laws, and no further, operating equally upon all the citizens, as is necessary and expedient for the general advantage of the public. 1 Black. Com. 125; Paley's Mor. Phil. B. 6, c.5; Swifts Syst. 12
4. That system of laws is alone calculated to maintain civil liberty, which leaves the citizen entirely master of his own conduct, except in those points in which the public good requires some direction and restraint. When aman is restrained in his natural liberty by no municipal laws but those which are requisite to prevent his violating the natural law, and to promote the greatest moral and physical welfare of the community, he is legally possessed of the fullest enjoyment of his civil rights of individual liberty. But it must not be inferred that individuals are to judge for themselves how far the law may justifiably restrict their individual liberty; for it is necessary to the welfare of the commonwealth, that the law should be obeyed; and thence is derived the legal maxim, that no man may be wiser than the law.
5. Natural liberty is the right which nature gives to all mankind, of disposing of their persons and property after the manner they judge most consonant to their happiness, on condition of their acting within the limits of the law of nature, and that they do not in any way abuse it to the prejudice of other men. Burlamaqui, c. 3, s. 15; 1 Bl. Com. 125.
6. Personal liberty is the independence of our actions of all other will than our own. Wolff, Ins. Nat. Sec. 77. It consists in the power of locomotion, of changing situation, or removing one's person to whatever place one's inclination may direct, without imprisonment or restraint, unless by due course of law. 1 Bl. Com. 134.
7. Political liberty may be defined to be, the security by which, from the constitution, form and nature of the established government, the citizens enjoy civil liberty. No ideas or definitions are more distinguishable than those of civil and political liberty, yet they are generally confounded. 1 Bl. Com. 6, 125. The political liberty of a state is based upon those fundamental laws which establish the distribution of legislative and executive powers. The political liberty of a citizen is that tranquillity of mind, which is the effect of an opinion that he is in perfect security; and to insure this security, the government must be such that one citizen shall not fear another.
8. In the English law, by liberty is meant a privilege held by grant or prescription, by which some men enjoy greater benefits than ordinary subjects. A liberty is also a territory, with some extraordinary privilege.
9. By liberty or liberties, is understood a part of a town or city, as the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia. The same as Fanbourg. (q.v.)

liberty

lib·er·ty

liberty

lib•er•ty

liberty

liberty

liberty

liberty

Give me liberty, or give me death!

take the liberty to do (something)

at liberty

take the liberty of (doing something)

take liberties

take liberties with (someone or something)

at liberty

take liberties with someone or something

take the liberty of doing something

at liberty

take liberties

take the liberty of

take liberties

take the liberty

take ˈliberties (with somebody/something)

at ˈliberty (to do something)

take the liberty of doing something

at liberty

take the liberty

liberty

Liberty,

liberty,

Historical Perspective

The Philosophical Concept of Liberty

The Acquisition of Liberty

Bibliography

Neo-Liberty

Liberty

Liberty

Further readings

Cross-references

liberty

LIBERTY

liberty

Synonyms for liberty

noun independence

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noun freedom

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Antonyms

phrase at liberty: free

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phrase at liberty: able

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phrase take liberties or a liberty

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Synonyms for liberty

noun the state of not being in confinement or servitude

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noun the condition of being politically free

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noun departure from normal rules or procedures

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Synonyms for liberty

noun immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

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Related Words

noun freedom of choice

Related Words

noun personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression

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noun leave granted to a sailor or naval officer

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noun an act of undue intimacy

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Related Words