fredom

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old English frēodōm, from Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm; equivalent to fre +‎ -dom.

Pronunciation

  • (Early Middle English) IPA(key): /ˈfrøːdoːm/
  • IPA(key): /ˈfreːdoːm/
  • (with reduction) IPA(key): /ˈfreːdum/, /ˈfreːdam/

Noun

fredom (plural fredomes)

  1. freedom, liberty
    • c. 1375, “Book I”, in Iohne Barbour, De geſtis bellis et uirtutibus domini Roberti de Brwyß […] (The Brus, Advocates MS. 19.2.2)‎[1], Ouchtirmunſye: Iohannes Ramſay, published 1489, folio 2, recto, lines 225-228; republished at Edinburgh: National Library of Scotland, c. 2010:
      A fredome is a noble thing / fredome mayß man to haiff liking / fredome all ſolace to ma[n] giffis / He levys at eß [that] frely levys
      Oh, freedom is a noble thing: / it allows people to get enjoyment / and provides all of humanity's peace. / If you live free, you live at ease!
  2. nationhood, independence
  3. free action, free will
  4. generosity, charitableness
  5. right, privilege (or a set of them)
  6. authority, freedom to act

Descendants

  • English: freedom
  • Scots: freedom

References

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