Lewis & Short

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1. līber, ĕra, ĕrum (old form, loebesum et loebertatem antiqui dicebant liberum et libertatem. Ita Graeci λοιβὴν et λείβειν, Paul. ex Fest. p. 121 Müll.; cf. 2. Liber), adj. [Gr. root λιφ-, λίπτω, to desire; cf. Sanscr. lub-dhas, desirous; Lat. libet, libido], that acts according to his own will and pleasure, is his own master; free, unrestricted, unrestrained, unimpeded, unshackled; independent, frank, open, bold (opp. servus, servilis).

  1. I. In gen.; constr. absol., with ab, the abl., and poet. also with gen.
          1. (α) Absol.: dictum est ab eruditissimis viris, nisi sapientem liberum esse neminem. Quid est enim libertas? Potestas vivendi ut velis, Cic. Par. 5, 1, 33: an ille mihi liber, cui mulier imperat, cui leges imponit, praescribit, jubet, vetat? etc., id. ib. 5, 2, 36: ad scribendi licentiam liber, id. N. D. 1, 44, 123: agri immunes ac liberi, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 69, § 166: integro animo ac libero causam defendere, unprejudiced, unbiased, id. Sull. 31, 86: liberi ad causas solutique veniebant, not under obligations, not bribed, id. Verr. 2, 2, 78 § 192; cf.: libera lingua, Plaut. Cist. 1, 2, 9: cor liberum, id. Ep. 1, 2, 43: vocem liberam mittere adversus aliquem, Liv. 35, 32, 6: libera verba animi proferre, Juv. 4, 90: judicium audientium relinquere integrum ac liberum, Cic. Div. 2, 72, 150: aliquid respuere ingenuo liberoque fastidio, id. Brut. 67, 236: libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio, id. Fin. 1, 10, 33: tibi uni vexatio direptioque sociorum impunita fuit ac libera, id. Cat. 1, 7, 18: pars quaestionum vaga et libera et late patens, id. de Or. 2, 16, 67: liberum arbitrium eis populo Romano permittente, Liv. 31, 11 fin.; cf. id. 37, 1, 5: mandata, full powers, unlimited authority, id. 37, 56; 38, 8: fenus, unlimited, id. 35, 7: custodia, free custody (i. e. confinement to a house or to a town), id. 24, 45; Vell. 1, 11, 1; v. custodia, II.: legatio, v. legatio: suffragia, the right of voting freely, Juv. 8, 211: locus, free from intruders, undisturbed, secure, Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 49; 3, 2, 25; id. Cas. 3, 2, 4: aedes, a free house, free dwelling (assigned to the use of ambassadors of friendly nations during their stay in Rome), Liv. 30, 17 fin.; 35, 23; 42, 6: lectulus, i. e. not shared with a wife, Cic. Att. 14, 13, 5: toga (poet. for virilis toga), a man’s (prop. of one who is his own master), Ov. F. 3, 771: vestis, id. ib. 3, 777: libera omnia sibi servare, to reserve to one’s self full liberty, Plin. Ep. 1, 5.
            Comp.: hoc liberiores et solutiores sumus, quod, etc., Cic. Ac. 2, 3, 8: est finitimus oratori poëta, numeris astrictior paulo, verborum licentia liberior, id. de Or. 1, 16, 70: liberiores litterae, id. Att. 1, 13, 1: amicitia remissior esse debet et liberior et dulcior, freer, more unrestrained, more cheerful, id. Lael. 18 fin.: paulo liberior sententia, Quint. 4, 2, 121: liberior in utramque partem disputatio, id. 7, 2, 14: fusiores liberioresque numeri, id. 9, 4, 130: officia liberiora plenioraque, id. 6, 1, 9: (flumina) campo recepta Liberioris aquae, freer, less impeded, Ov. M. 1, 41; cf.: (Tiberinus) campo liberiore natat, freer, opener, id. F. 4, 292: liberiore frui caelo, freer, opener, id. M. 15, 301.
            Sup.: liberrimum hominum genus, comici veteres tradunt, etc., the frankest, most free-spoken, Quint. 12, 2, 22; cf.: liberrime Lolli, most frank, most ingenuous, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 1: indignatio, id. Epod. 4, 10.
          2. (β) Free or exempt from, void of; with ab: Mamertini vacui, expertes, soluti ac liberi fuerunt ab omni sumptu, molestia, munere, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 10, § 23; cf.: (consul) solutus a cupiditatibus, liber a delictis, id. Agr. 1, 9, 27: ab observando homine perverso liber, id. Att. 1, 13, 2: liber a tali irrisione Socrates, liber Aristo Chius, id. Ac. 2, 39, 123: ab omni animi perturbatione liber, id. Off. 1, 20, 67; id. N. D. 2, 21, 55: loca abdita et ab arbitris libera, id. Att. 15, 16, B: libera a ferro crura, Ov. P. 1, 6, 32: animus liber a partibus rei publicae, Sall. C. 4.
          3. (γ) With abl.: animus omni liber curā et angore, free from, without, Cic. Fin. 1, 15: animus religione, Liv. 2, 36: animus cogitationibus aliis, Quint. 11, 2, 35: mens omnibus vitiis, id. 12, 1, 4; cf.: liberis odio et gratia mentibus, id. 5, 11, 37: omni liber metu, Liv. 7, 34: liber invidia, Quint. 12, 11, 7: equus carcere, Ov. Am. 2, 9, 20.
          4. (δ) With gen. (poet.): liber laborum, Hor. A. P. 212: fati gens Lydia, Verg. A. 10, 154: curarum, Luc. 4, 384.
            Comp.: liberior campi, having a wider space, Stat. S. 4, 2, 24.
            (ε) Liberum est, with subject-clause: quam (opinionem) sequi magis probantibus liberum est, it is free, permitted, allowable, Quint. 6, 3, 112; Plin. Ep. 1, 8: dies eligere certos liberum erat, Plin. 30, 2, 6, § 16.
            So in abl. absol.: libero, quid firmaret mutaretve, Tac. A. 3, 60.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. Free, in a social point of view, not a slave (opp. servus; also to ingenuus): neque vendendam censes quae libera est, Ter. Ad. 2, 1, 40; cf. id. ib. v. 28: dis habeo gratiam quom aliquot affuerunt liberae, because slaves were not permitted to testify, id. And. 4, 4, 32; opp. ingenuus, free-born: quid ea? ingenuan’ an festucā facta e servā liberast? Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 14: in jure civili, qui est matre liberā, liber est, Cic. N. D. 3, 18, 45; id. Caecin. 36, 96: si neque censu, neque vindictā, nec testamento liber factus est (servus), non est liber, id. Top. 2, 10: quae (assentatio) non modo amico, sed ne libero quidem digna est, of a freeman, id. Lael. 24, 89; Quint. 11, 1, 43: liberorum hominum alii ingenui sunt, alii libertini, Gai. Inst. 1, 10; cf. sqq.: ex ancilla et libero jure gentium servus nascitur, id. ib. 1, 82; cf. § 85; Paul. Sent. 2, 24, 1 sqq.
    2. B. Free, in a political point of view; said both of a people not under monarchical rule and of one not in subjection to another people, Cic. Rep. 1, 32, 48; cf.: ut ex nimia potentia principum oritur interitus principum, sic hunc nimis liberum populum libertas ipsa servitute afficit, id. ib. 1, 44, 68: liber populus, id. ib. 3, 34, 46: (Demaratus) vir liber ac fortis, democratic, republican, fond of liberty, id. ib. 2, 19, 34: civitates liberae atque immunes, free from service, Liv. 37, 55: provinciae civitatesque liberae, Suet. Vesp. 8: libera ac foederata oppida, id. Calig. 3: Roma patrem patriae Ciceronem libera dixit, Juv. 8, 244.
    3. C. In a bad sense, esp. with reference to sensual pleasure, unbridled, unchecked, unrestrained, licentious: quam liber harum rerum multarum siet (Juppiter), Plaut. Am. prol. 105: adulescens imprudens et liber, Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 40; cf.: sit adulescentia liberior, somewhat freer, Cic. Cael. 18, 42: amores soluti et liberi, id. Rep. 4, 4, 4: consuetudo peccandi, id. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 177.
      Hence, adv.: lībĕrē, freely, unrestrictedly, without let or hinderance; frankly, openly, boldly: qui nihil dicit, nihil facit, nihil cogitat denique, nisi libenter ac libere, Cic. Par. 5, 1, 34: animus somno relaxatus solute movetur et libere, id. Div. 2, 48, 100: respirare, id. Quint. 11, 39: constanter et libere (me gessi), id. Att. 4, 16, 9: consilium dare, id. Lael. 13, 44: aliquid magis accusatorie quam libere dixisse, id. Verr. 2, 2, 72, § 176: omnia libere fingimus et impune, Quint. 6, 1, 43: ut ingredi libere (oratio), non ut licenter videatur errare, Cic. Or. 23, 77.
      Comp.: liberius vivendi fuit potestas, Ter. And. 1, 1, 23: loqui, Cic. Planc. 13, 33: fortius liberiusque defendere, Quint. 12, 1, 21: liberius si Dixero quid, Hor. S. 1, 4, 103: maledicere, id. ib. 2, 8, 37: longius et liberius exseritur digitus, Quint. 11, 3, 92; cf. id. 11, 3, 97: ipsaque tellus Omnia liberius, nullo poscente, ferebat, freely, of itself, spontaneously, Verg. G. 1, 127.

2. līber, ĕri (gen. plur. liberūm, Att. ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 9; Turp. ap. Non. 495, 26; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 15, § 40; 2, 1, 30, § 77; Tac. A. 2, 38; 3, 25 saep.; cf. Cic. Or. 46, 155; but also: liberorum, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 30, § 76; 2, 5, 42, § 109), m. [1. liber], a child.

  1. I. Sing. (post-class. and rare): si quis maximam portionem libero relinquat, Cod. Just. 3, 28, 33; 5, 9, 8 fin.; Quint. Decl. 2, 8.
  2. II. Plur., children (freq.; but in class. Lat. only of children with reference to their parents: pueri = children in general, as younger than adulescentes; cf. Krebs, Antibarb. p. 657 sq.).
    1. A. Lit.: liberorum genus, Enn. ap. Cic. Or. 46, 155 (Trag. v. 347 Vahl.): liberorum sibi quaesendum gratia, id. ap. Fest. p. 258 Müll. (Trag. v. 161 Vahl.): cum conjugibus et liberis, Cic. Att. 8, 2, 3: eum ex C. Fadii filiā liberos habuisse, id. ib. 16, 11, 1: liberos procreare, id. Tusc. 5, 37, 109: suscipere liberos, id. Verr. 2, 3, 69, § 161: per liberos te precor, Hor. Epod. 5, 5: dulces, id. ib. 2, 40: parvuli, Quint. 2, 15, 8; opp. parentes, id. 11, 1, 82; 3, 7, 18; 26; 6, 1, 18; 6, 5 al.: mater quae liberos, quasi oculos (amisit), orba est, Sulp. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 182 Müll.: jus trium liberorum, under the emperors, a privilege enjoyed by those who had three legitimate children (it consisted in the permission to fill a public office before one’s twenty-fifth year, and in freedom from personal burdens); this privilege was sometimes also bestowed on those who had fewer than three children, or even none at all; also of one child: non est sine liberis, cui vel unus filius unave filia est, Dig. 50, 16, 148; Plaut. Aul. 4, 10, 6; Ter. Hec. 2, 1, 15; id. Heaut. 1, 1, 99; id. And. 5, 3, 20; Cic. Phil. 1, 1, 2; id. de Imp. Pomp. 12, 33; id. Verr. 2, 1, 15, § 40; ib. 30, § 76 Zumpt; cf. also Sulp. ap. Cic. Fam. 4, 5: neque ejus legendam filiam (virginem Vestalem) … qui liberos tres haberet, Gell. 1, 12, 8: uxores duxerant, ex quibus plerique liberos habebant, Caes. B. C. 3, 110, 2.
      Of grandchildren and great-grandchildren: liberorum appellatione nepotes et pronepotes ceterique qui ex his descendunt, continentur, Dig. 50, 16, 220; cf.: liberi usque ad trinepotem, ultra hos posteriores vocantur, ib. 38, 10, 10, § 7: habitus sis in liberum loco, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 15, § 40.
      1. 2. Esp.
          1. (α) Of sons (opp. daughters): procreavit liberos septem totidemque filias, Hyg. Fab. 9.
          2. (β) Of children in gen. = pueri: praecepta Chrysippi de liberorum educatione, Quint. 1, 11, 17; cf.: Catus aut de liberis educandis, the title of a book by Varro, v. Gell. 4, 19, 2; Macr. S. 3, 6, 5.
    2. B. Transf., of animals, young: liberis orbas oves, Plaut. Capt. 4, 2, 38.
      Comically: quaerunt litterae hae sibi liberos: alia aliam scandit, Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 23.

3. Līber, ĕri (Sabine collat. form, loebasius, acc. to Serv. Verg. G. 1, 7; cf. 1. liber, and libertas init.), m. [Gr. λείβω, to pour; λοιβή, a drink-offering; Lat. libare], an old Italian deity, who presided over planting and fructification; afterwards identified with the Greek Bacchus: hunc dico Liberum Semelā natum, non eum, quem nostri majores auguste sancteque Liberum cum Cerere et Libera consecraverunt. Sed quod ex nobis natos liberos appellamus, idcirco Cerere nati nominati sunt Liber et Libera: quod in Libera servant, in Libero non item, Cic. N. D. 2, 24, 62; cf. Serv. Verg. G. 1, 5; Cic. Leg. 2, 8, 19: tertio (invocabo) Cererem et Liberum, quod horum fructus maxime necessarii ad victum: ab his enim cibus et potio venit e fundo, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 5: Liber et alma Ceres, Verg. G. 1, 7: ex aede Liberi, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 57, § 128; in a pun with 1. liber, Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 46; cf. id. Curc. 1, 2, 21; id. Stich. 5, 4, 17; so in a pun with liber, free: quiaque adeo me complevi flore Liberi, Magis libera uti lingua collibitum est mihi, Plaut. Cist. 1, 2, 8; cf.: salve, anime mi, lepos Liberi, ut veteris ego sum cupida, etc., id. Curc. 1, 2, 3.
Connected with pater: sic factum, ut Libero patri repertori vitis hirci immolarentur, Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 19: Romulus et Liber pater, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 5: per vestigia Liberi patris, Plin. 4, 10, 17, § 39: patre favente Libero fetis palmitibus, Col. 3, 21, 3: Libero patri in monte res divina celebratur, Macr. S. 1, 18, 4.

  1. B. Meton., wine: illud, quod erat a deo donatum, nomine ipsius dei nuncupabant: ut cum fruges Cererem appellamus, vinum autem Liberum: ex quo illud Terentii (Eun. 4, 5, 6): sine Cerere et Libero friget Venus, Cic. N. D. 2, 23, 60: Liberum et Cererem pro vino et pane, Quint. 8, 6, 24; cf. also Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 4 supra: sed pressum Calibus ducere Liberum Si gestis, etc., Hor. C. 4, 12, 14: condita cum verax aperit praecordia Liber, id. S. 1, 4, 89.

4. lĭber, bri, m. [Gr. λέπειν, to peel; λέπος, λεπίς; cf. λοβός], the inner bark or rind of a tree.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: obducuntur libro aut cortice trunci, Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 120: colligatae libris (arundines), Varr. R. R. 1, 8, 4: udoque docent (germen) inolescere libro, Verg. G. 2, 77: natam libro et silvestri subere clausam, id. A. 11, 554; id. E. 10, 67: quam denso fascia libro, Juv. 6, 263.
    2. B. Esp., because the ancients used the bark or rind of trees to write upon; usually the thin rind of the Egyptian papyrus, on which the books of the Greeks and Romans were usually written (v. Dict. of Antiq. p. 587 sq.): antea non fuisse chartarum usum. In palmarum foliis primo scriptitatum, dein quarundam arborum libris, Plin. 13, 11, 21, § 69.
      Hence,
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Paper, parchment, or rolls of any substance used to write upon (cf.: charta, membrana): quasi quom in libro scribuntur calamo litterae, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 131.
    2. B. Most freq. a book, work, treatise: Demetrii liber de concordia, Cic. Att. 8, 12, 6: quas (sententias) hoc libro exposui, id. Lael. 1, 3; cf. id. ib. 1, 5: dixi in eo libro, quem de rebus rusticis scripsi, id. de Sen. 15, 54: libros pervolutare, id. Att. 5, 12, 2: evolvere, id. Tusc. 1, 11, 24: volvere, id. Brut. 87, 298: legere, id. Fam. 6, 6, 8: edere, id. Fat. 1, 1: libri confectio, id. de Sen. 1, 1: tempus ad libros vacuum, id. Rep. 1, 9, 14: cujus (Platonis) in libris, id. ib. 1, 10, 16: in Graecorum libris, id. ib. 2, 11, 21: librum, si malus est, nequeo laudare, Juv. 3, 41: actorum libri, the official gazette, id. 9, 84; cf. 2, 136; and v. Dict. Antiq. s. v. Acta.
    3. C. In partic.
      1. 1. A division of a work a look: tres libri perfecti sunt de Natura Deorum, Cic. Div. 2, 1, 3: hi tres libri (de Officiis), id. Off. 3, 33, 121: sermo in novem libros distributus, id. Q. Fr. 3, 5, 1: dictum est in libro superiore, id. Off. 2, 13, 43 sicut superiore libro continetur, Quint. 11, 1, 1: versus de libro Ennii annali sexto, id. 6, 3, 86: liber primus, secundus, tertius, etc., id. 8, 1, 2; 10, 2, 20; 11, 1, 4 al.
        Sometimes, in this latter case, liber is omitted: in T. Livii primo, Quint. 9, 2, 37: in tertio de Oratore, id. 9, 1, 26: legi tuum nuper quartum de Finibus, Cic. Tusc. 5, 11, 32.
      2. 2. In relig. or pub. law lang., a religious book, scriptures; a statute-book, code: decemviris adire libros jussis, i. e. the Sibylline books, Liv. 34, 55; 21, 62; 25, 12: se cum legeret libros, recordatum esse, etc., Cic. N. D. 2, 4, 11: ut in libris est Etruscorum, id. Div. 2, 23, 50; id. Att. 9, 9, 3: caerimoniarum, rituals, Tac. A. 3, 38.
    4. D. A list, catalogue, register, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 71, § 167.
    5. E. A letter, epistle, Nep. Lys. 4, 2; Plin. Ep. 2, 1, 5.
  3. F. A rescript, decree (post-Aug.): liber principis severus et tamen moderatus, Plin. Ep. 5, 14, 8.