liberty

lib|er|ty [ˈlıbəti US -ər-] n plural liberties

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1¦(freedom)¦

2¦(legal right)¦

3¦(without permission)¦

4 be at liberty to do something

5 take liberties with somebody/something

6 at liberty

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[Date: 1300-1400; : French; Origin: liberté, from Latin libertas, from liber 'free']

1.) ¦(FREEDOM)¦[U]

the freedom and the right to do whatever you want without asking permission or being afraid of authority

▪ the fight for liberty and equality

individual/personal liberty

▪ threats to individual liberty

religious/political/economic liberty

▪ struggles for political liberty

2.) ¦(LEGAL RIGHT)¦ [C usually plural]

a particular legal right

▪ liberties such as freedom of speech

→↑civil liberty

3.) ¦(WITHOUT PERMISSION)¦ [singular]

something you do without asking permission, especially which may offend or upset someone else

take the liberty of doing sth

▪ I took the liberty of cancelling your reservation.

4.) be at liberty to do sth

formal to have the right or permission to do something

▪ I am not at liberty to discuss these matters.

5.) take liberties with sb/sth

a) to make unreasonable changes in something such as a piece of writing

▪ The film-makers took too many liberties with the original novel.

b) old-fashioned to treat someone without respect by being too friendly too quickly, especially in a sexual way

▪ He's been taking liberties with our female staff.

6.) at liberty

formal if a prisoner or an animal is at liberty, they are no longer in prison or enclosed in a small place

= ↑free