adjective freer fre′er, freest fre′est

1. 1. not under the control of some other person or some arbitrary power; able to act or think without compulsion or arbitrary restriction; having liberty; independent
   2. characterized by or resulting from liberty
2. 1. having, or existing under, a government that does not impose arbitrary restrictions on the right to speak, assemble, petition, vote, etc.; having civil and political liberty a free people
   2. not under control of a foreign government
3. able to move in any direction; not held, as in chains, etc.; not kept from motion; loose
4. not held or confined by a court, the police, etc.; acquitted
5. not held or burdened by obligations, debts, discomforts, etc.; unhindered; unhampered free from pain
6. at liberty; allowed free to leave at any time
7. not confined to the usual rules or patterns; not limited by convention or tradition free verse
8. not literal; not exact a free translation
9. not held or confined by prejudice or bias
10. not restricted by anything except its own limitations or nature free will
11. not busy or not in use; available for other work, use, etc.
12. readily done or made; spontaneous a free offer
13. not constrained or stilted; easy and graceful a free gait
14. 1. generous; liberal; lavish a free spender
    2. profuse; copious
15. frank; straightforward
16. too frank or familiar in speech, action, etc.; forward; indecorous
17. with no charge or cost; gratis a free ticket
18. not liable to (trade restrictions, etc.); exempt from certain impositions, as taxes or duties
19. clear of obstructions; open and unimpeded a free road ahead
20. open to all; esp., without restrictions as to trade a free market, free port
21. not in contact or connection; not fastened the free end of a rope
22. not united; not combined free oxygen
23. not opposed; favorable: said of a wind blowing from a direction more than six points from straight ahead
24. Games additional; extra a free turn
25. Jazz designating or of improvisation unrestricted by set harmonic structure, rhythmic patterns, tempo, etc.
26. Linguis. designating a minimum form, or morpheme, that may occur alone as an independent word in “boys,” boy is a free form, but -s is not

Etymology: ME fre < OE freo, not in bondage, noble, glad, illustrious, akin to Ger frei, Du vrij < IE base *prei-, to be fond of, hold dear > friend, Sans priyá-, dear, desired

adverb freer fre′er, freest fre′est

1. without cost or payment
2. in a free manner; without obstruction, burden, obligation, etc.
3. Naut. with a favorable wind

transitive verb freed, freeing free′·ing