5. (Civil Law & Courts of Admiralty) A written declaration or statement
by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.
Li"bel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Libeled (-bld) or Libelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Libeling or Libelling.] 1. To defame, or expose to public hatred,
contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon.
Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair.
Pope.
2. (Law) To proceed against by filing a libel, particularly against a
ship or goods.
<! p. 848 pr=VMG !>
Li"bel (l"bl), v. i. To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with
against. [Obs.]
What's this but libeling against the senate?
Shak.
[He] libels now 'gainst each great man.
Donne.
Li"bel*ant (-ant), n. One who libels; one who institutes a suit in an
ecclesiastical or admiralty court. [Written also libellant.] Cranch.
Li"bel*er (-r), n. One who libels. [Written also libeller.] " Libelers
of others." Buckminster.
Li"bel*ist (-st), n. A libeler.
||Li *bel"la (l*bl"l), n. [L., dim. of libra balance. See Level, n.] 1.
||A small balance.
||
2. A level, or leveling instrument.
Li*bel"lu*lid (l*bl"l*ld), n. (Zoöl.) A dragon fly.
Li*bel"lu*loid (-loid), a. [NL. Libellula, the name of the typical
genus + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the dragon flies.
Li"bel*ous (l"bl*s), a. Containing or involving a libel; defamatory;
containing that which exposes some person to public hatred, contempt,
or ridicule; as, a libelous pamphlet. [Written also libellous.] --
Li"bel*ous*ly, adv.
||Li"ber (l"br), n. [L. See Libel.] (Bot.) The inner bark of plants,
||lying next to the wood. It usually contains a large proportion of
||woody, fibrous cells, and is, therefore, the part from which the
||fiber of the plant is obtained, as that of hemp, etc.
||
Liber cells, elongated woody cells found in the liber.
Lib"er*al (lb"r*al), 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.
2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous;
bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. " Liberal of praise."
Bacon.
Infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite.
Milton.
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.
His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower.
Shak.
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.
5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit;
catholic.
6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. "
Most like a liberal villain." Shak.
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.
I confess I see nothing liberal in this " order of thoughts," as
Hobbes elsewhere expresses it.
Hazlitt.
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.
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.
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.
Lib"er*al, 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.
Lib"er*al*ism (-z'm), n. [Cf. F. libéralisme.] Liberal principles; the
principles and methods of the liberals in politics or religion;
specifically, the principles of the Liberal party.
Lib"er*al*ist, n. A liberal.
Lib`er*al*is"tic (-s"tk), a. Pertaining to, or characterized by,
liberalism; as, liberalistic opinions.
Lib`er*al"i*ty (-l"*t), n.; pl. Liberalities (- tz). [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.
That liberality is but cast away Which makes us borrow what we can
not pay.
Denham.
2. A gift; a gratuity; -- sometimes in the plural; as, a prudent man is
not impoverished by his liberalities.
Lib`er*al*i*za"tion (- al**z"shn), n. The act of liberalizing.
Lib"er*al*ize (lb"r*al*z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liberalized (-zd); p.
pr. & vb. n. Liberalizing (-`zng).] [Cf. F. libéraliser.] To make
liberal; to free from narrow views or prejudices.
To open and to liberalize the mind.
Burke.
Lib"er*al*i`zer (-`zr), n. One who, or that which, liberalizes.
Emerson.
Lib"er*al*ly, adv. In a liberal manner.
Lib"er*ate (-t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liberated (- `td); p. pr. & vb. n.
Liberating (-`tng).] [L. liberatus, p. p. of liberare to free, fr.
liber free. See Liberal, a., and cf. Deliver.] To release from
restraint or bondage; to set at liberty; to free; to manumit; to
disengage; as, to liberate a slave or prisoner; to liberate the mind
from prejudice; to liberate gases.
Syn. -- To deliver; free; release. See Deliver.
Lib`er*a"tion (lb`r*"shn), n. [L. liberatio: cf. F. libération. Cf.
Livraison.] The act of liberating or the state of being liberated.
This mode of analysis requires perfect liberation from all
prejudged system.
Pownall.
Lib"er*a`tor (lb"r*`tr), n. [L.] One who, or that which, liberates; a
deliverer.