From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Liberal \Lib"er*al\ (l[i^]b"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lib['e]ral, L.
liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet, it
pleases, E. lief. Cf. {Deliver}.]
1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman;
refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean;
as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or
studies. " Liberal education." --Macaulay. " A liberal
tongue." --Shak.
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2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman;
generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. "
Liberal of praise." --Bacon.
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Infinitely good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite. --Milton.
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3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient;
abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a
liberal discharge of matter or of water.
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His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. --Shak.
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4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the
literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a
classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
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5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in
spirit; catholic.
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6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint;
licentious. " Most like a liberal villain." --Shak.
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7. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in
political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion;
not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the
constitution or administration of government; having
tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished
from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal
thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
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I confess I see nothing liberal in this " order of
thoughts," as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it.
--Hazlitt.
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Note: Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing
bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to
before a person or object on which anything is
bestowed; as, to be liberal of praise or censure;
liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the
poor.
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{The liberal arts}. See under {Art}.
{Liberal education}, education that enlarges and disciplines
the mind and makes it master of its own powers,
irrespective of the particular business or profession one
may follow.
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Syn: Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample;
large; profuse; free.
Usage: {Liberal}, {Generous}. Liberal is freeborn, and
generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the
ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies
largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc.
The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is
peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, -- a
spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment
in consulting the feelings and happiness of others.
Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices
it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which
it manifests.
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