libere

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈliː.bɛ.reː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈliː.be.re]^[1]

Forms

līberē (comparative līberius, superlative līberissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin līber (“free”) + -ē, an adverb.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨līber⟩ to Proto-Italic *leuþero-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁leudʰ-ero- (“belonging to the people”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of speaking frankly, and Terence uses it of acting like a free man.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC and Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant like a free man, like a gentleman, as in Terence; without restriction, at will, freely; and without concealment, openly, frankly, boldly, as in Plautus and Cicero.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it of being born and brought up as free men.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of frank speech.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of acting like a free man.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Like a free man, like a gentleman.^[2]
2. Without restriction, at will, freely.^[2]
3. Openly, frankly, boldly.^[2]

Related words

• līber
• līberālis
• līberālitās
• līberāliter
• līberātiō
• līberātor
• līberātrīx
• līberō
• līberta
• lībertās

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press