Middle English Dictionary Entry
frẹ̄dọ̄̆m n.
Entry Info
| Forms | frẹ̄dọ̄̆m n. Also freodom, fredam, vridom. |
| Etymology | OE frēodōm, frīo-; cp. OFris. frīdōm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) Liberty (as opposed to servitude), the social status of a freeman; --also fig.; (b) national sovereignty, independence; (c) spiritual liberty, the state of not being in subjection to sin or the Devil.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)52/556 : Ha schawið i hwuch þeodom wifes beoð, þe þullich mote drehen, ant meidnes, i hwuch freodom [Tit: frdeom], þe freo beoð from ham alle.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)631 : Þou shalt me, louerd, fre maken..Þoru þe wile i fredom haue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)72b/b : Slake þe hond fro þy seruaunt and he askeþ fredome.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.15.13 : And whom with freedam thow ȝyuest, thou shalt not suffre to goon awey voyd.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.235 : Love..kan The fredom of youre hertes to hym thralle.
- c1450(c1396) Chaucer Buk.(Benson-Robinson)32 : God graunte yow your lyf frely to lede In fredam; for ful hard is to be bonde.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)377 : Better is freedam with litel in gladnesse, Than to be thral in al wordly richesse.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)180a/a : Þe men be free, and nouȝt soget to lordeshepe of oþer naciouns, and put hem to perill of deeþ by cause of freedome.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.71 : Now ere þei in seruage fulle fele þat or was fre, Our fredom þat day for euer toke þe leue.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.189 : I am accused to han hoped the fredom of Rome.
c
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)237 : His fredom was binomen him al And put in seruage as a þral.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)86 : Þe oþer uridom is þe ilke þet habbeþ þe guodemen..þet god heþ yvryd be grace..uram þe þreldome of þe dyeule and of zenne.
- c1400 WBible(1) (Adv 18.6.7)2 Cor.3.17 : [Where is the spirit of God, there is] liberte, or fredom.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.240 : Þat lesiþ þe fredom þat Crist haþ purchasid, and makiþ men þralle to synne.
- a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.PN (Add 17013)339 : Þanne schal we haue euere lastynge fredom.
1b.
(a) Freedom of action; liberty to do what one pleases; permission to do something; at (in) ~, freely; fol ~, license; with ~ of herte (spirit), willingly; (b) liberty of choice, free will, a free choice; ~ of arbitri (chesing, liberte, wil), free will; at the ~ of (someone), in (someone's) ~, at (someone's) will, according to the unrestricted choice of (someone); (c) an inner compulsion; lawe of ~, the inward compulsion of the New Testament (as a substitute for the external compulsion of the Mosaic law).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23409 : Þe fredom sal be at vnderstand: Þi bodi bind sal nakin band [etc.].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27924 : O luchery..We may se many branches spredde, Als fole fredom and lesing spoken.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6623 : [The king] ȝaf eke lyf & fredam for to go To þe moder and hir childer two.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.3.17 : Where so, forsoþe, is þe spyryt of oure lord..þer is þe fredam of vnderstandyng and of doyng.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4906 : He..yalt [him] into som covent..And lesith fredom and fraunchise.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)137 : Þat he his werk do with a fredome of spirite [vr. fredome of hert & spirite].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)128/32 : The fisshes þat han fredom to enviroun all the costes of the see.
- (1426) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.4251 : Þe seide Anne shall be at hir fredome to go and resorte to þe seide lorde.
- (c1426) Paston2.13 : [They] ne durst not at here fredom nothyr goon ne ryde.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)193 : Þei demen it dedly synne, a prest to fulfille þe ordynaunce of god in his fredom wiþ-oute nouelrie of synful men.
- (1471) LRed Bk.Bristol2.132 : Suffre the saide John to be at his libertie and ffredam, without any imprisonement or let of you.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)299 : Þey..oblishen men wiþ-oute chesoun aȝen þe fredom of cristis lawe.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)13 : The lawe..Fredam yove the parties..ther grevis to declare.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)86 : Þe man heþ þri maneres of uridom..Þe uerste is uri-wyl huerby he may chyese..þet guod oþer þet kuead.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)129 : God Almyghty, þat puttes in monnis fredame to chese gode or yvel.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)6a/b : Arbitrium: a dom or a fredome, a fre choyse or a fre wyl.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.9 : It semeth..to contrarien gretly, that God knoweth byforn all thinges and that ther is any fredom of liberte [L libertatis arbitrium].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.91 : This thing oonly suffiseth inow to destroien the fredom of oure arbitrie (that is to seyn, of our fre wil).
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.32 : Than weneth it nat that fredom of wil [L arbitrii libertatem] be distorbed or ylet be prescience.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)34 : Freedom of chesyng of good or yuel & þat hadde man in paradijs free y nouȝ, now forsoþe it is caytif.
- (1453) Will York in Sur.Soc.30190 : I yeve and bequeeth..xx l..yeerly for xij yeer enduryng at ye fredome of myne executours.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Jas.1.25 : He that shal parfijtly biholde in the lawe of parfijt fredom [L legem perfectam libertatis]..shal be blessid in his dede.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16a/a : Þey makeþ hemsilf subiect to god obedientliche, & nouȝt compelled, but by verrey fredom.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Jas.2.12 : So speke ȝe, & so do ȝe, as þouȝ ȝe bygonne to ben y-demed by þe lawe of fredom [L legem libertatis].
2.
Nobility of character; esp., generosity, liberality; also, an act of generosity.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)20897 : Ich heom habbe ifreoied for mines fader saule, & for mine freodome.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.29 : Mani on seiþ, were he riche, Sholde non oþer..ben so large and fre; Wen þe katel is igeten, Þenne is þe fredom al forȝeten.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)189 : Bliþe was eche a barn ho best miȝt him plese & folwe him for his fredom & for his faire þewes.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3832 : He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.46 : He loued chiualrye, Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.168 : Hir herte is verray chambre of holynesse, Hir hand ministre of fredam for almesse.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10048 : Al gredines..Hir fredom has it al for-don.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4799 : Worþi knyȝtes..He koude cherische..With gold & ȝiftes, þat þei myȝt fele His grete fredam & largesse.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)131/2 : For yf thow Spendyst or yeveste othyr men goodes, thow Passyste Frauncesse and out of Fredome thow walkyst.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1127 : Thus can this quene honurable hire gestes calle, As she that can in fredom passen alle.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)24/30 : Som askid him; whate is freedome or libertee? To the whiche he aunswerde: to be deliuerid of siluer.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)106 : Her fredom fond Arcite in such manere That al was his that she hath, moche or lyte.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)232/17 : Hou vices be trowede vertues..Wast ouerspens is called largys and fredam of hert.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)145/27 : If ye may not shewe theym largesse and fredome of your goodes, at the lest, be to theym curtes and debonere.
3a.
A special right or privilege: (a) the right to land, property, rent, income, etc.; exemption from a tax, a service, etc.; jurisdiction over civil or criminal case, etc.; (b) the right to buy or sell; (c) exemption from punishment, immunity; (d) the privilege (granted to a city) of electing its mayor.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : Ic wille þet ealle þa freodom & ealle þa forgiuenesse þe mine forgengles geafen, þet hit stande.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22222 : Ardur..sette grið, he sette frið, and alle freodomes.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.16/8 : He made this Chirche..with the sam fredommys that his Crowne ys liberttid with..and relesid hit all customys.
- (1430-31) RParl.4.371b : Savying to ye saide Roialme of Englond, and to alle the Kyngges Lieges and Subjettes therof..alle their Libertees, Fredoms, Lawes, Custumes and Priveleges, yat they, their Auncestres and Predecessours, haveth had.
- (1439) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.18 : Wyth wodes, medos, and any odyr fredam.
- (1441) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12118 : If thay suld admytt thayr request, hitt suld turn thaym in prejudice of the fredom afore rehersid.
- (1444) RParl.5.126a : That he be forjugged of all maner Officez and fredomz within the seid Toun.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12846 : Hetis hom hertely to haue all hor hert wille, Of ffredom, & ffranches.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.84/17 : William Sutton..schewed charters of lordis Kynges of Inglonde of liberteis or ffredoms.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.147/15 : All ffredoms and ffree Customs to þe same londe perteynyng.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)33/9 : With all other pertynentis and fredomes longyng to the same lond.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)8 : It is not inferrid of þis, þat þe duk or ȝerle grauntiþ þis fredam or priuilege, but raþer it longiþ to þe kyngis dignite.
b
- (1447) RParl.5.139a : That all Grauntes of Frauncheses, Markettes, Feyres, and other Fredoms to bye or sell, or bake or brue to sell within the Townes of Northwales..made to eny Walshman afore this tyme, be voide.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)458 : They..bien..What them liste wythe fredome and fraunchise, More then we Englisshe may getyn in any wyse.
- (1467) LRed Bk.Bristol1.18 : The seid letters patents bi the whicch ye clayme your seid Fredam of beying and syllyng withynne our said Towne of Bristowe.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.61 : He graunted hem fredom [Higd.(2): grete liberte; L immunitatem] þat dede þat deede.
d
- (1386) RParl.FM (C&D)34 : The eleccion of Mairaltee is to be to the fre men of the Citee..noughtwithstondyng the same fredam or fraunchise, Nichol Brembre..thourgh debate & strenger partye ayeins the pees bifore purueyde was chosen Mair.
3b.
The total body of rights and privileges claimed by: (a) a people or nation; (b) the Church in general; or, a specific church; (c) the corporation of a city or town.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)21 : Myghty men, and bolde..forto defende youre londe and youre fredome [Dub: franchise].
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.129 : Constantyn..grauntede to chirches fredom [L immunitates] and priveleges.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)29329 : Þe twelft case er þai þat wirk Ogayns þe law of haly kirk, Or if þai owþer haue done or spokin Thing þat þe fredom has brokin.
- (1441) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12119 : Yhe sall support, defennd, and maynteyn the fredom and the rightez of the kirke..of Coldingham.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)56/30 : Þou schalt..payen trewly þi tythe..and ȝif þou do noȝt þus, þou depryuest holy cherch of his fredom & of his ryȝt.
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)62 : Alle þat brekon þe Franchyse & þe Fredam of holy chirche.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1845 : Seyn Thomas..Kepte the fredam & fraunchyse.
c
- (?a1417) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120222 : In grete hinderyng of the kynges poeple and in brekynges of fredom of the citee.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.130 : William Brigis..bringes vp newe Customes..ayenst þe Fredome of þe Cite.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)1876 : Wynchestre..Gret þank and freodam of heom wan.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)129 : Everech son of a burgeys..render to the baillives of the toun the swerd with which his father was sworen to meyntenyn the fredom [OF fraunchise] of the toun.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.315 : To haue recours to the mair or Chaumbirlein, as fredom & ordinaunce of this citee wole.
3c.
(a) The king's authority in general, royal prerogative; (b) membership in the corporation of a city or town, citizenship; the political status of a Roman citizen; (c) membership in a craft or guild; (d) the status of a wife (among the gentry); (e) the privileged or sacred nature of a holy day.
Associated quotations
a
- (1397) RParl.3.379a : I amonges other restreyned my Lord of his fredom, and toke upon me..Power Reall, trewly naght knowyng..that I dede aȝeyns his Estate ne his Realte.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deeds.22.28 : The tribune answeride: Y with myche summe gat this fredom [L civilitatem]. And Poul seide; And Y was borun a citeseyn of Rome.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.854 : Ye sayd Mayr and ye Counsel of ye sayd cite discharged ye said John Lyllyng..of hys fredom of franchise of ye cite, and charged hym yat he suld noght occupy in bying nor in sellyng als a concitezin, bot als a straunger.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.855 : John Lyllyng..prayed yam yai wald vouchesaufe to restor hym to hys fredom of ye cite, and take of hym yarfor c li.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)117 : And ȝif that fool merchaunt be burgeyses of the toun..thanne be the fals beyere..put out of his fredam in the toun a yer and a day, of every maner of profyt as of avauntage of merchaundise that he owith to have.
- (1444) RParl.5.126b : And yef eny Brugeys..resceyve lyverey contrarie to the Statut tofore seid, then he lese the peyne conteyned in the seid Statutes, and the Burgeys his fredom.
- (1454) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.50 : Thei Stonde in the same Fredome as a man boron in ynglond or Walys.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.24 : To forswer the fredom of this Cite a twelmonyth & a day.
c
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.150 : The names þe wheche hauen paied yn partie of payment dyuerse percell of monye for her Fredam and her Entres of þe Fraternite, & welen paie nomor.
- (1440) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.4 : Rescewyd of Rawf Age f hys fredowme, xxvj s viij d. ..rescewyd of stewene heyne for hys fredome, xxxiij s. iiij d.
- (1447) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.13 : Res. for fremen. Fyrst of John Fylleray for hys fredowm, xxxiij s. iiij d.
d
- -?-(1409) Indent.Rither in Reliq.n.s.5112 : Sir William, hir lord, ne salle noght do, ne gar do hir ne bodili harme, ne hir mahayme, ne bete, ne emprison, bot kepe hir in fulle ffredom, als a man of his degre hoghe to do his wyfe.
e
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)41 : Þa fredome þe limpeð to þan deie þe is iclepeð su sunedei.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)41 : Vor þe holy day heþ his vridom ase habbeþ þe holy stedes.
4.
(a) The body of citizens forming the corporation of a city or town; (b) the corporate limits of a city or town, the territory under the jurisdiction of the corporation.
Associated quotations
a
- (1457) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.58 : Euery persone foreyne, not being of the Fredome of the said Towne, bringing thider any merchaundyse to sale, shuld paie for the ease..by a certayne duetie of mony.
b
- (1423) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.134 : Barges and Ferybotes and othir vessels that be commynge & goynge in the fredom of the Citee.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450 Rev.HWoman (Lngl 29)76/562 : Ȝe disvsed ȝour-self in þe syn of lechery with-out eny nede, when ȝe myȝt haue had and taken þe fredom of wedloke, which ȝe had leve by God to take.
Note: fredom of wedloke This sense isn't quite covered by any of our glosses. Prob. it is closest to the 3a. group but it needs its own sub-sense. Idea is 'the privilege of sexual relationships within the framework of marriage'--per MJW