Webster's English Dictionary

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liberal

1. lib.er.al \'lib(-*)-r*l\ \-r*-le-\ aj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L liberalis 
   suitable for a freeman, generous, fr. lib]er free; akin to OE le-odan to 
   grow, Gk eleutheros free 1a: of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts 
   {~ education}  archaic  1b: of or befitting a man of free birth  2a: marked 
   by generosity and openhandedness {~ giver}  2b: given in a generous and 
   openhanded way {~ amount} : BOU NTIFUL obs  3: lacking moral restraint : 
   LICENTIOUS  4: not literal : LOOSE {a ~ translation}  5: BROAD-MINDED, 
   TOLERANT; esp : not bound by authorit arianism, orthodoxy, or traditional 
   forms 6a: of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism  cap  
   6b: of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the  
   principles of political liberalism; esp : of or constituting a political 
   party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual esp. 
   economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and 
   constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure 
   these objectives n giving freely and unstintingly. LIBERAL suggests 
   openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given; 
   GENEROUS stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or 
   importance of the gift; BOUNTIFUL suggests lavish, unremitting giving or 
   providing; MUNIFICENT suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or 
   princes - lib.er.al.ly av SYN syn LIBERAL, GENEROUS, BOUNTIFUL, MUNIFICENT 
   mea 
2. liberal n : one who is liberal : as  : one who is open-minded in the 
   observance of orthodox or traditional for ms cap  : a member or supporter 
   of a Liberal party  : an advocate of liberalism esp. in individual rights