Liberally

adv. [f. LIBERAL a. + -LY².] In a liberal manner.

  1.  As befits a gentleman or man of culture. (Cf. LIBERAL a. 1.)

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 157, ¶ 4. A certain Hardness and Ferocity which some Men, tho’ liberally educated, carry about them in all their Behaviour.

1900.  A. Lang, in Longm. Mag., Oct., 591. Not to know Queen Anne’s wits and their works is not to be liberally educated.

  2.  Bountifully, freely, generously.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 181. William … liberally rewarded … went aȝen to Normandye.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, xliii. 168. Blanchardyn … right lyberaly graunted to hym his requeste.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 147 b. Whiche … mynistreth to theyr neyghbours liberally suche goodes … as they haue receyued of god.

c. 1620.  Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 49. For such a one they lib’rally will give.

1682.  Norris, Hierocles, 119. How can God, though of his own nature never so liberally disposed, give to him who has liberty of asking, and yet does not?

1811.  Scott, Prose Wks., IV. Biographies (1870), II. 165. His … poetic talents were … liberally exerted for the support of this undertaking.

1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 284. Promises, and even gold,… were liberally lavished.

1848.  C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, vi. (1873), 53. And, if I do anything worthy of praise, she gives me my meed liberally.

1885.  Sir H. Cotton, in Law Times Rep., LIII. 481/2. The bill … is one which the clients are not bound to pay unless they are minded to deal liberally with the solicitors.

  b.  Without stint; abundantly, amply, plentifully.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXVII. (Percy Soc.), 131. With golden droppes so lyberally indewed.

1585.  Fetherstone, trans. Calvin on Acts vi. 2. Their widowes were not so liberallie relieued.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., i. 123. That vertue which she could not liberallie impart Shee striveth to amend by her owne proper Art.

1709.  Strype, Ann. Ref. (1824), I. II. lv. 345. As they were both riding home from a treat, at which they had drunk liberally.

a. 1713.  Ellwood, Autobiog. (1714), 63. He spared not to blame him liberally for it.

1809.  J. Arnold, in Med. & Phys. Jrnl., XXI. 23. Acid fruits should be liberally offered.

1860.  Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., iv. It was not by any means a savage pantomime…; was often very droll; was always liberally got up, and cleverly presented.

1884.  Mil. Engineering, I. II. 111. After allowing liberally for casualties during the advance.

  † 3.  Chiefly with reference to speech: Without reserve or restraint; freely; often, with unbecoming freedom, insolently, licentiously. Also, without constraint; voluntarily. Obs.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Q vj. Your daughter may speke lyberally with hir cousyns.

1535.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 3. The Mayre … shall … suffre all thinhabitauntes … lyberally and freely without interrupcion … to … bringe their saide hearinges.

1568.  Mary, Q. Scots, Lett., in H. Campbell, Love Lett. (1824), App. 301. Thay would have persuadit me be craft to have liberallie dimittit my crown.

1614.  J. Cooke, Tu Quoque, C 1 b. Had mine owne brother spoke thus liberally, My fury should haue taught him better manners.

1646.  Bp. Maxwell, Burd. Issach., 32. Some may thinke, I speake liberally; God forbid I should doe it.

  † b.  In a lax or loose manner. Obs.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 109. Vthiris in the meine tyme leiuet sa liberallie.