freedomとは

意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Middle English fredom, freedom, from 古期英語 frēodōm (“freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”), from Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm (“freedom”). Equivalent to free +‎ -dom. Cognate with North Frisian fridoem (“freedom”), Dutch vrijdom (“freedom”), Low German frīdom (“freedom”), Middle High German vrītuom (“freedom”), Norwegian fridom (“freedom”).

発音

• (Received 発音) enPR: frē'dəm, IPA^(key): /ˈfɹiːdəm/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹidəm/
• ハイフネーション: free‧dom

名詞

freedom (countable かつ uncountable, 複数形 freedoms)

1. (uncountable) The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

   Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.

2. (countable) The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.
   • 2013 June 7, Gary Younge, “Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 18:

     The dispatches […] also exposed the blatant discrepancy between the west's professed values and actual foreign policies. Having lectured the Arab world about democracy for years, its collusion in suppressing freedom was undeniable as protesters were met by weaponry and tear gas made in the west, employed by a military trained by westerners.

   Freedom of speech is a basic democratic value.

   People in our city enjoy many freedoms.

   Every child has a right to freedom from fear and freedom from want.

3. Frankness; openness; unreservedness.
   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, Letter 50:

     I doubt not, that you will take amiss my freedom; but as you have deserved it from me, I shall be less and less concerned on that score, as I see you are more and more intent to show your wit at the expense of justice and compassion.

4. Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum.

使用する際の注意点

• Freedom from can be followed by various nouns, typically, fear, want, hunger, pain, hatred, disease, stress, depression, debt, poverty, necessity, violence, war, advertising, addiction, etc.

同意語

• liberty
• license
• exemption

反意語

• slavery
• imprisonment
• bondage
• constraint

派生語