liberty

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
liberty/ˈlɪbəti/

▶noun (pl. liberties)

• 1 the state of being free from oppression or imprisonment.

• 2 a right or privilege, especially a statutory one.

• 3 the power or scope to act as one pleases.

• 4 informal a presumptuous remark or action.

• 5 Nautical shore leave granted to a sailor.

– phrases
at liberty

• 1 not imprisoned.

• 2 allowed or entitled to do something.

take liberties with

• 1 behave in an unduly familiar manner towards.

• 2 treat without strict faithfulness to the facts or to an original.

take the liberty venture to do something without first asking permission.

– origin ME: from OFr. liberte, from L. libertas, from liber ‘free’.