liberta

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [liːˈbɛr.ta]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [liˈbɛr.ta]^[1]

Forms

līberta f (genitive lībertae); first declension^[1] The Digest has a dative and ablative plural lībertābus.^[2]

Etymology

It is the feminine of lībertus “freedman”, from līber “free”.^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

It meant a freedwoman, in relation to the one who freed her, her patron, lībertīna was the general term for a freedwoman.^[3][2]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[4][2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A freedwoman (of her former master).^[3]

Related words

• lībertus
• lībertīna
• līber
• lībertās

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
3. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de