a. [ F. libéral, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. “ Liberal of praise.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infinitely good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. “ Most like a liberal villain.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I confess I see nothing liberal in this “ order of thoughts, ” as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it. Hazlitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample; large; profuse; free. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as liberalization.
Syn. -- liberalization, relaxation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. libéralisme. ] Liberal principles; the principles and methods of the liberals in politics or religion; specifically, the principles of the Liberal party. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A liberal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, liberalism; as, liberalistic opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Liberalities [ L. liberalitas: cf. F. libéralité. ] 1. The quality or state of being liberal; liberal disposition or practice; freedom from narrowness or prejudice; generosity; candor; charity. [ 1913 Webster ]

That liberality is but cast away
Which makes us borrow what we can not pay. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A gift; a gratuity; -- sometimes in the plural; as, a prudent man is not impoverished by his liberalities. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of liberalizing; the act of making less strict.
Syn. -- liberalization, relaxation. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liberalized p. pr. & vb. n. Liberalizing ] [ Cf. F. libéraliser. ] To make liberal; to free from narrow views or prejudices; to make less strict. [ 1913 Webster ]

To open and to liberalize the mind. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, liberalizes. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]