---
title: liberty — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «liberty» in the school dictionary: Liberty is freedom: the right to live, speak and act as you choose without being controlled or imprisoned unfairly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# liberty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, formal, liberty, taking, I, Statue · **What happens:** be, live, speak, act, choose, control · **To what, where:** Liberty freedom, liberty, formal, something, cheeky act, York harbour · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«liberty» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [liberty in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/liberty.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Liberty is freedom: the right to live, speak and act as you choose without being controlled or imprisoned unfairly.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:m1:1
# text = Liberty is freedom: the right to live, speak and act as you choose without being controlled or imprisoned unfairly.
1	Liberty	Liberty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	choose	choose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	advcl	_	_
16	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	controlled	control	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	xcomp	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	conj	_	_
21	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Liberty freedom |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **act** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **choose** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **control** | gerund · passive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S» |
| 7 | **imprison** | participle | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | unfairly *property* | vn confine-92 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At liberty means free, not in prison; or (formal) allowed to do something.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:m2:1
# text = At liberty means free, not in prison; or (formal) allowed to do something.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | liberty |  | free *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **allow** | participle · passive |  | formal |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP S»: subject=Beneficiary clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | formal *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am not at liberty to say.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:m2e:1
# text = I am not at liberty to say.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  | liberty |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A liberty is a cheeky or rude act; taking a liberty means doing something without permission.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:m3:1
# text = A liberty is a cheeky or rude act; taking a liberty means doing something without permission.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	cheeky	cheeky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
14	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	xcomp	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	_
16	without	without	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a liberty | a cheeky act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | gerund |  | a liberty |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liberty=Theme |
| 3 | **mean** | present | taking |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund | taking *not said here* | something |  |  |  | without permission | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Statue of Liberty stands in New York harbour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x1:1
# text = The Statue of Liberty stands in New York harbour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Statue	Statue	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Liberty	Liberty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
5	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
8	York	York	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | present | the Statue |  |  | York harbour |  | of Liberty | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in harbour=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People have fought hard for liberty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x2:1
# text = People have fought hard for liberty.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	fought	fight	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | present · perfect | People |  |  |  |  | for liberty; hard *property* | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The escaped tiger is still at liberty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x3:1
# text = The escaped tiger is still at liberty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	escaped	escape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	tiger	tiger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the escaped tiger |  |  | liberty | still |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm not at liberty to tell you the secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x4:1
# text = I'm not at liberty to tell you the secret.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  | liberty |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | the secret | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient secret=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I took the liberty of borrowing your pen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x5:1
# text = I took the liberty of borrowing your pen.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	borrowing	borrow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | I | the liberty |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liberty=Theme |
| 2 | **borrow** | gerund | the liberty *not said here* | your pen |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pen=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eating my last biscuit — what a liberty!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x6:1
# text = Eating my last biscuit — what a liberty!
1	Eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	nsubj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  | my last biscuit |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biscuit=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Liberty includes the freedom to speak your mind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x7:1
# text = Liberty includes the freedom to speak your mind.
1	Liberty	Liberty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	includes	include	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | present | Liberty | the freedom |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent freedom=Theme |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | Liberty *not said here* | your mind |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is nothing worth so much as liberty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:liberty:x8:1
# text = There is nothing worth so much as liberty.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	2	nsubj	_	_
4	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	liberty	liberty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | nothing |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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