英汉词典

liberal 基本解释

• adj. 自由主义的；慷慨的；不拘泥的；宽大的
• n. 自由主义者
• n. (Liberal)人名；(葡)利贝拉尔

liberal 词态变化

liberal 中文词源

来自PIE*leu-dhero,来自*leu,人民，自由人，词源同eleutherian,自由人的，-dhero,工具格后缀，引申词义自由的，开明的，大方的，无私的，高贵的。现主要用于自由的，词义演变比较frank.

liberal 英文词源

liberal

liberal: [14] The Latin word for ‘free’ was līber. It came from the same prehistoric source as Greek eleútheros ‘free’, which may have denoted ‘people, nation’ (in which case the underlying etymological meaning of the word would be ‘being a member of the (free) people’, as opposed to ‘being a slave’). From līber was derived līberālis ‘of freedom’, which passed into English via Old French liberal.

Its earliest English meanings were ‘generous’ and ‘appropriate to the cultural pursuits of a ‘free’ man’ (as in ‘the liberal arts’). The connotations of ‘tolerance’ and ‘lack of prejudice’ did not emerge until the 18th century, and the word’s use as a designation of a particular political party in Britain dates from the early 19th century. Also from Latin līber come English libertine [14] and liberty [14].
=> libertine, liberty

liberal (adj.)

mid-14c., "generous," also, late 14c., "selfless; noble, nobly born; abundant," and, early 15c., in a bad sense "extravagant, unrestrained," from Old French liberal "befitting free men, noble, generous, willing, zealous" (12c.), from Latin liberalis "noble, gracious, munificent, generous," literally "of freedom, pertaining to or befitting a free man," from liber "free, unrestricted, unimpeded; unbridled, unchecked, licentious," from PIE *leudh-ero-, probably originally "belonging to the people" (though the precise semantic development is obscure; compare frank (adj.)), and a suffixed form of the base *leudh- "people" (cognates: Old Church Slavonic ljudu, Lithuanian liaudis, Old English leod, German Leute "nation, people;" Old High German liut "person, people").

With the meaning "free from restraint in speech or action," liberal was used 16c.-17c. as a term of reproach. It revived in a positive sense in the Enlightenment, with a meaning "free from prejudice, tolerant," which emerged 1776-88.

In reference to education, explained by Fowler as "the education designed for a gentleman (Latin liber a free man) & ... opposed on the one hand to technical or professional or any special training, & on the other to education that stops short before manhood is reached" (see liberal arts). Purely in reference to political opinion, "tending in favor of freedom and democracy" it dates from c. 1801, from French libéral, originally applied in English by its opponents (often in French form and with suggestions of foreign lawlessness) to the party favorable to individual political freedoms. But also (especially in U.S. politics) tending to mean "favorable to government action to effect social change," which seems at times to draw more from the religious sense of "free from prejudice in favor of traditional opinions and established institutions" (and thus open to new ideas and plans of reform), which dates from 1823.

Conservative, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. [Ambrose Bierce, "Devil's Dictionary," 1911]

liberal (n.)

1820, "member of the Liberal party of Great Britain," from liberal (adj.). Used early 20c. of less dogmatic Christian churches; in reference to a political ideology not conservative or fascist but short of socialism, from c. 1920.

This is the attitude of mind which has come to be known as liberal. It implies vigorous convictions, tolerance for the opinions of others, and a persistent desire for sound progress. It is a method of approach which has played a notable and constructive part in our history, and which merits a thorough trial today in the attack on our absorbingly interesting American task. [Guy Emerson, "The New Frontier," 1920]

liberal 英文释义

1. a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties

2. a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets

liberal 双语例句

1. The Liberal Democrat'ssupport fell away at the last minute.

自由民主党的支持率在最后一刻有所下降。

来自柯林斯例句

2. The attitude of the medical profession is very much more liberal now.

现在，医务人员的态度开明多了。

来自柯林斯例句

3. The electoral fortunes of the Liberal Democratic party may decline.

自由民主党的选举运势可能会下降。

来自柯林斯例句

4. Bennett launched a crusade for "moral values" against decadent "liberal relativism."

贝内特发起了一场捍卫“道德价值”、反对腐朽堕落的“自由相对论”的战争。

来自柯林斯例句

5. Oxford's social circle was far too liberal for her taste.

牛津的社交圈过于开放,不合她的胃口.

来自柯林斯例句

liberal 实用场景例句

liberal attitudes/views/opinions

开明的态度 / 观点 / 意见

牛津词典

Some politicians want more liberal trade relations with Europe.

有些政治家想与欧洲大陆建立更加自由的贸易关系。

牛津词典

liberal democracy

自由民主

牛津词典

liberal theories

自由主义的理论

牛津词典

a liberal politician

支持改革的政治家

牛津词典

She is very liberal with her money.

她用钱很大方。

牛津词典

I think Sam is too liberal with his criticism (= he criticizes people too much) .

我认为萨姆太爱批评人。

牛津词典

a liberal education

人文教育

牛津词典

a liberal translation of the text

不拘泥于原文的翻译

牛津词典

a liberal interpretation of the law

对法律的灵活解释

牛津词典

Apply the cream liberally.

抹上大量的奶油。

牛津词典

The word ‘original ’ is liberally interpreted in copyright law.

original一词在版权法中解释很灵活。

牛津词典

Reform is popular with middle-class liberals.

改革受到了中产阶级支持变革者的普遍欢迎。

牛津词典

She is known to have liberal views on divorce and contraception.

众所周知，她在离婚与避孕方面思想很开明。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...a liberal democracy with a multiparty political system...

多党政制的自由民主国家

柯林斯高阶英语词典

They favour liberal free-market policies.

他们支持开放的自由市场政策。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

The Liberal leader has announced his party's withdrawal from the ruling coalition.

自由党领袖已宣布该党退出执政联盟。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

As always he is liberal with his jokes...

像平时一样，他出口就是笑话。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

She made liberal use of her elder sister's make-up and clothes.

她随便把姐姐的化妆品和衣服拿来用。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Please contact the account manager for the recharge of prepayment.

客户如需再增值预缴服务费,请与商务顾问联系.

期刊摘选

The Liberal Bloc voted for the tax increase.

开明集团投票赞成增税.

《简明英汉词典》

This country adopts a liberal foreign policy.

该国采用的是开放的外交政策.

《简明英汉词典》

More and more people are inclined towards the Liberal Party as they become disenchanted with the two main parties that have governed the country for half a century.

人们对统治这个国家达半个世纪之久的两大政党不再抱有幻想,愈来愈多的人倾向于自由党.

《简明英汉词典》

The vile person shall be no more called liberal , nor the churl said to be bountiful.

愚顽人不再称为高明 、 吝啬人不再称为大方.

《简明英汉词典》

He has a liberal attitude to divorce and remarriage.

他对离婚和再婚看得很开.

《简明英汉词典》

The speaker lashed into Liberal government.

发言人猛烈抨击自由党政府.

《简明英汉词典》