free English · revision 1799

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ine-pro *pri-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /friː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|enm|fre]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[inh|ang|frēo|t=not in bondage; exempt; also noble, joyful]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Weekley 1921) from [[gem-pro|*frijaz|t=beloved; not in bondage]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*priy-a-|t=dear, beloved]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*pri-|t=to love]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(NODE 1998) Its Germanic cognates include [[ofs|frī]], [[osx|frī]], [[nl|vrij]], [[goh|frī]] (modern [[de|frei]]), [[non|frjáls]] and [[got|𐍆𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃|tr=freis]];^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) outside Germanic it is related to [[cy|rhydd|t=free]], [[grc|πρᾱΰς|tr=prāÿ́s|t=gentle, mild]] and [[sa|प्रिय|tr=priyá|t=dear, beloved]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) The verb is [[inh|enm|freen]], from Old English [[m|ang|frēogan]], [[m|ang|frēon|t=to free; to love]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) which is cognate with [[got|𐍆𐍂𐌹𐌾𐍉𐌽|tr=frijōn|t=to love]] and [[non|frjá|t=to love]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) The word is related to [[friend]] and [[Friday]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of persons, not bound or subject to another as a slave is, having personal rights and liberty (Old English, about 725 in Barnhart; in King Alfred's writings).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The primary sense of the root was “dear, beloved”.^(Hoad 1986)^(Skeat 1911)^(Barnhart 1988) The meaning “free” perhaps arose because the terms “beloved” or “friend” were applied to the free members of one's household or clan, related to its head, as opposed to the slaves;^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(Barnhart 1988) the sense development is the converse of that of Latin ''līberī'', which means both “free persons” and “children of the family”.^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921)^(Skeat 1911) The older sense survives in the related verbs, as in German ''freien'' “to woo”, and in Old English ''frēo'' “wife” and the goddess name [[Frigg]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Old English ''frēo'' could also mean “noble, honourable”, a sense now obsolete.^(SOED 2002)^(Weekley 1921) The meaning “clear of obstruction” is from the mid-13th century, “unrestrained in movement” and “liberal, generous” from about 1300, and of nations “not subject to foreign rule or despotism” from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) “Characterized by liberty of action or expression” dates from the 1630s, and of art “not holding strictly to rule or form” from 1813.^(Etymonline) The adverb is recorded from 1250 in Barnhart, 1559 in Merriam-Webster.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The catchphrase ''it's a free country'' dates from 1863.^(OED 1989) In American prison slang ''the free'' has meant the world outside prison since the 1960s.^(GDoS)^(Dalzell 2013)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''frēo'' (adjective) and ''frēon'' (verb).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 888 – of persons, not in bondage, in King Alfred.^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * c. 1200 – ''fre''; the verb ''frien''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * mid-13th century – clear of obstruction.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – unrestrained in movement; generous.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – of a nation, not under foreign rule or despotism.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1552 – of trade, without restrictions.^(HTOED)

+ * 1559 – as an adverb.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1630s – characterized by liberty of action or expression.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1813 – of art, not holding strictly to rules.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1863 – ''it's a free country''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1881 – ''free-for-all'' (US).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not imprisoned or [[slave|alt=enslaved]]; at [[liberty]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not controlled by obligation or by the will of another: ''free to go''.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Of a country or people, politically independent; enjoying [[civil liberties]]: ''a free press''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # Not affected or restricted by something; exempt: ''free from pain'', ''tax-free''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not fixed, confined or obstructed: ''the free end of the rope''.^(COED 2004)^(AHD)

+ # Costing nothing; given without charge.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not occupied or in use; available.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+ # Generous or lavish; frank or unreserved in manner.^(AHD)^(Chambers 2008)^(HTOED)

+ # Of a translation, not [[literal]].^(AHD)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # ''(physics, chemistry)'' Not bound in an atom, molecule or compound.^(COED 2004)^(Chambers 2008)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Without charge: ''children admitted free''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Without restraint; freely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(nautical)'' With the wind well aft of dead ahead; not close-hauled.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To set at liberty; to [[release]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # To relieve of a burden, obligation or restraint: ''freed him of debt''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To remove obstructions or entanglements from; to clear.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[freely]]

+ * [[freeness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[friend]]

+ * [[Friday]]

+ * [[freedom]]

+ * [[freeman]]

+ * [[freemason]]

+ * [[freelance]]

+ * [[freebooter]]

+ * [[Frigg]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster distinguishes the verbs ''free'', which implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds or oppresses, ''release'', ''liberate'', ''emancipate'' and ''manumit''.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}