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liberal arts

Historical the subjects in the trivium and quadrivium
the subjects of an academic college course, including literature, philosophy, languages, history, and, usually, survey courses of the sciences, as distinguished from professional or technical subjects: sometimes referred to as arts, as in Bachelor of Arts

Origin: transl. of L artes liberales, lit., arts befitting a freeman: so named in contrast to artes serviles, lower (lit., servile) arts, and because open to study only by freemen (L liberi); in later use understood as “arts becoming a gentleman”

See liberal arts in American Heritage Dictionary 4

plural noun

Academic disciplines, such as languages, literature, history, philosophy, mathematics, and science, that provide information of general cultural concern: “The term ‘liberal arts’ connotes a certain elevation above utilitarian concerns. Yet liberal education is intensely useful” (George F. Will).
The disciplines comprising the trivium and quadrivium.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , translation of Medieval Latin artēs liberālēs, the trivium and quadrivium

Origin: : Latin artēs

Origin: , pl. of Latin ars, art-, subject of study

Origin: + līberālēs

Origin: , pl. of līberālis, proper to free persons

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