Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - liberal

 I. adjective  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~is suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English leodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free  Date: 14th century  1.  a. of, relating to, or based on the ~ arts ~ education  b. archaic of or befitting a man of free birth  2.  a. marked by generosity ; openhanded a ~ giver  b. given or provided in a generous and openhanded way a ~ meal  c. ample, full  3. obsolete lacking moral restraint ; licentious  4. not literal or strict ; loose a ~ translation  5. broad-minded; especially not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms  6.  a. of, favoring, or based upon the principles of ~ism  b. capitalized of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political ~ism; especially of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun Synonyms:  ~, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. ~ suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given a teacher ~ with her praise. generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift a generous offer of help. bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing children spoiled by bountiful presents. munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes a munificent foundation grant.  II. noun  Date: 1820 a person who is ~: as  a. one who is open-minded or not strict in the observance of orthodox, traditional, or established forms or ways  b. capitalized a member or supporter of a ~ political party  c. an advocate or adherent of ~ism especially in individual rights