I.init.), ātis, f. 1. liber, the state or condition of a freeman, a being free, freedom, liberty, freedom from restraint or obligation, free will, etc.
I. In gen.: “quid est enim libertas? potestas vivendi, ut velis,” Cic. Par. 5, 1, 34: “ne majorem largiar ei, qui contra dicturus est, libertatem et licentiam,” id. Ac. 2, 10, 30: “praecidere sibi libertatem vivendi,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 1, § 3: “tabella dat populo eam libertatem, ut, quod velint, faciant,” id. Planc. 6, 16: “libertas in ridendo, in plorando,” id. ib. 14, 33: “omnium rerum impunitam libertatem tenere,” id. de Or. 1, 52, 226: “libertas est naturalis facultas ejus quod cuique facere libet, nisi si quid vi aut jure prohibetur,” Just. Inst. 1, 3, 1.—With gen.: “feminae omnium rerum libertatem desiderant,” Liv. 34, 2 fin: “testamentorum,” Quint. 3, 6, 84: “verborum (with licentia figurarum),” id. 10, 1, 28: “dialogorum,” id. 10, 5, 15: “caeli,” the open air, id. 10, 3, 22.—Poet. with inf sit modo libertas, quae velit ira, loqui, Prop. 1, 1, 28: “nec mihi libertas imis freta tollere arenis,” Val. Fl. 1, 601.—
II. In partic.
A. Civil freedom, liberty, opp. to slavery: “Scaevae, servo Q. Crotonis, libertas data est,” Cic. Rab. Perd. 11, 31: alicujus libertati parcere, Enn. ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 38 (Ann. v. 206 Vahl.): “omnes homines naturā libertati studere et condicionem servitutis odisse,” Caes. B. G. 3, 10 fin.: “patriam et libertatem perdidi,” Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 50: “libertas paenulast tergo tuo,” id. Most. 4, 2, 74: “haruspex his promisit libertatem,” id. Poen. 5, 4, 54: “aliquem in libertatem asserere,” Suet. Vit. 10: “petitur puer in libertatem,” id. Rhet. 1: “libertatis condicio,” Ulp. Fragm. 2, 3: “favor libertatis,” Gai. Inst. 1, 21; Paul. Sent. 2, 23, 2: “libertatem dare,” Gai. Inst. 2, 200: “amittere,” id. ib. 1, 160 sq.—
(β).
In plur. (anteand post-class.): “tribus non conduci possim libertatibus, Quin, etc.,” Plaut. Cas. 2, 8, 70: “pecunias et libertates servis et ante dono datas,” Tac. A. 15, 55: “in libertatibus dandis,” Gai. Inst. 2, § 228: “libertatium conservandarum causa,” Dig. 38, 1, 13, § 1: “lex (Fufia Caninia) cavet ut libertates servis testamento nominatim dentur,” Ulp. Fragm. 1, 25.—
2. Trop.: “se in libertatem vindicare,” Cic. de Or. 2, 33, 145; cf.: “in libertatem vindicati,” id. N. D. 1, 20, 56.—
B. Political freedom, liberty, or independence of a people not under monarchical rule, or not subject to another people (opp. servitus and dominatus): “aut exigendi reges non fuerunt: aut plebi re, non verbo danda libertas,” Cic. Leg. 3, 10 fin.: “aliae nationes servitutem pati possunt: populi Romani est propria libertas,” id. Phil. 6, 7 fin.; cf. id. ib. 3, 11 fin.: “in optimatium dominatu vix particeps libertatis potest esse multitudo,” id. Rep. 1, 27, 43: “et a regum et a patrum dominatione solere in libertatem rem populi vindicari, etc.,” id. ib. 1, 32, 48: “alicui eripere libertatem,” id. ib. 1, 17, 28: “in libertate permanere,” Caes. B. G. 3, 8: “libertatem accipere, recuperare,” id. ib. 7, 1 fin.: “plus communi libertati tribuere,” id. ib. 7, 37: “per dolum ac proditionem prope libertas amissa est,” Liv. 2, 3, 1: “conditor Romanae libertatis,” id. 8, 34.—
C. The spirit of liberty, consciousness of freedom: “dolor animi, innata libertas, prompta excellensque virtus,” Cic. Sest. 41, 88: “timefacta libertas,” id. Off. 2, 7, 24.—
D. Freedom of speech or thought, frankness, boldness, candor (mostly post-Aug.): “hoc mihi libertas, hoc pia lingua dedit,” Ov. H. 15, 68: “vera de exitu ejus magna cum libertate ominatus est,” Vell. 2, 71, 2: “quae in aliis libertas est, in aliis licentia vocatur,” Quint. 3, 8, 48: “affectatores libertatis,” id. 6, 2, 16; 10, 1, 94: “antiqua comoedia facundissimae libertatis,” id. 10, 1, 65: “vox honestissimae libertatis,” id. 11, 1, 37: “libertas ingenii,” Sall. J. 30, 3.—
E. Freedom from taxation, exemption: “aedium,” Dig. 8, 6, 18.—
F. Personified: Līber-tas , tatis, f., the goddess of Liberty, whose temple on the Aventine Hill was founded by the father of Tiberius Gracchus in the second Punic war; in the atrium of this temple the census-tables were preserved, Ov. F. 4, 624; Liv. 24, 17; 25, 7; 34, 44; 45, 15; Cic. Mil. 22, 59; id. Att. 4, 16, 14; id. N. D. 2, 23, 61. A statue of Libertas was erected by Clodius on the site of Cicero's house after it was pulled down, Cic. Att. 4, 2, 3.
