Category:Freedom

Free"dom, n. Etym: [AS. freód; freófree + -dom. See Free, and -dom.]

1. The state of being free; exemption from the power and control of another; liberty; independence. Made captive, yet deserving freedom more. Milton.

2. Privileges; franchises; immunities. Your charter and your caty's freedom. Shak.

3. Exemption from necessity, in choise and action; as, the freedom of the will.

4. Ease; facility; as, he speaks or acts with freedom.

5. Frankness; openness; unreservedness. I emboldened spake and freedom used. Milton.

6. Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum; license.

7. Generosity; liberality. [Obs.] Chaucer. Freedom fine, a sum paid on entry to incorporations of trades. -- Freedom of the city, the possession of the rights and privileges of a freeman of the city; formerly often, and now occasionally, conferred on one not a resident, as a mark of honorary distinction for public services.

Syn. -- See Liberty.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Freedom - The law of Moses pointed out the cases in which the servants of the Hebrews were to receive their freedom (Exodus 21:2, Exodus 21:7, Exodus 21:8; Leviticus 25:39, Leviticus 25:47; Deuteronomy 15:12). Under the Roman law the "freeman" (ingenuus) was one born free; the "freedman" (libertinus) was a manumitted slave, and had not equal rights with the freeman (Acts 22:28; compare Acts 16:37; Acts 21:39; Acts 22:25; Acts 25:11, Acts 25:12).