LIBEL, l[=i]'bel, _n._ a written accusation: any malicious defamatory
publication or statement: (_law_) the statement of a plaintiff's grounds of
complaint against a defendant.--_v.t._ to defame by a libel: to satirise
unfairly: (_law_) to proceed against by producing a written
complaint:--_pr.p._ l[=i]'belling; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ l[=i]'belled.--_ns._
L[=I]'BELLANT, one who brings a libel; L[=I]'BELLER; L[=I]'BELLING,
defaming.--_adj._ L[=I]'BELLOUS, containing a libel: defamatory.--_adv._
L[=I]'BELLOUSLY. [L. _libellus_, dim. of _liber_, a book.]
LIBER, l[=i]'ber, _n._ the bast or inner bark of exogenous plants: a book.
[L.]
LIBERAL, lib'[.e]r-al, _adj._ becoming a gentleman: generous: noble-minded:
candid: free: free from restraint: general, extensive.--_n._ one who
advocates greater freedom in political institutions.--_n._
LIBERALIS[=A]'TION, the process of making liberal.--_v.t._ LIB'ERALISE, to
make liberal, or enlightened: to enlarge.--_ns._ LIB'ERALISM, the
principles of a Liberal in politics or religion; LIBERAL'ITY, the quality
of being liberal: generosity: largeness or nobleness of mind: candour:
impartiality.--_adv._ LIB'ERALLY.--_v.t._ LIB'ER[=A]TE, to set free: to
release from restraint, confinement, or bondage.--_ns._ LIBER[=A]'TION;
LIBER[=A]'TIONIST, one who is in favour of church disestablishment;
LIB'ER[=A]TOR, one who liberates or frees.--_adj._ LIB'ER[=A]TORY, tending
to liberate.--LIBERAL PARTY, the name adopted by the Whigs (1830) to denote
the body formed by their union with the Radicals; LIBERAL UNIONIST, one of
that section of the Liberal Party which joined the Conservatives from
inability to accede to Mr Gladstone's policy of giving Home Rule to Ireland
(1886); GERMAN LIBERALS, a party in German politics, formed by the
amalgamation of the Progressist party and the Liberal union, and advocating
moderate liberalism in opposition to the policy of Prince Bismarck;
NATIONAL LIBERALS, a party in German politics which before 1871 advocated
the completion of governmental unity in Germany, as well as supported
progressive measures of reform. [Fr.,--L. _liberalis_, befitting a
freeman--_liber_, free, akin to _libet_, _lubet_, it pleases.]
LIBERTY, lib'[.e]r-ti, _n._ freedom to do as one pleases: the unrestrained
enjoyment of natural rights: power of free choice: privilege: exemption:
relaxation of restraint: the bounds within which certain privileges are
enjoyed: freedom of speech or action beyond ordinary civility.--_ns._
LIBERT[=A]'RIAN, one who believes in free-will as opposed to necessity;
LIBERT[=A]'RIANISM, the doctrine of the freedom of the will, as opposed to
necessitarianism; LIBER'TICIDE, a destroyer of liberty; LIBER'TINAGE,
debauchery; LIB'ERTINE, formerly one who professed free opinions, esp. in
religion: one who leads a licentious life, a rake or debauchee.--_adj._
belonging to a freedman: unrestrained: licentious.--_n._ LIB'ERTINISM,
licentiousness of opinion or practice: lewdness or debauchery.--LIBERTY OF
INDIFFERENCE, freedom of the will--because before action the will is
undetermined as to acting or not acting; LIBERTY OF THE PRESS, liberty to
print and publish without previous permission from government.--CAP OF
LIBERTY (see BONNET ROUGE, under BONNET); RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, the right of
thinking about religion or of worshipping as one likes. [Fr.,--L.
_libertas_.]
LIBIDINOUS, li-bid'in-us, _adj._ lustful, lascivious, lewd.--_ns._
LIBID'INIST, a lewd person; LIBIDINOS'ITY, LIBID'INOUSNESS.--_adv._
LIBID'INOUSLY. [Fr.,--L. _libidinosus_--_libido_, desire--_libet_, _lubet_,
it pleases.]
LIBKEN, lib'ken, _n._ (_slang_) a place of abode.