liberty

lib|er|ty [ `lıbərti ] noun **

1. ) uncount the freedom to think or behave in the way you want and not be controlled by a government or by other people:

their long struggle for liberty and independence

a ) count a particular kind of freedom, especially one that you have a legal right to:

The use of surveillance cameras could infringe on people's personal liberties.

2. ) uncount freedom from being kept in prison:

He was finally given his liberty at the age of 68.

at liberty: Two members of the gang are still at liberty.

3. ) count something that offends someone because you have not asked their permission:

It would be quite a liberty if one of my friends used my house while I was away.

be at liberty to do something FORMAL

to be allowed to do something:

As the investigation is still under way, we are not at liberty to release any names.

I took the liberty of doing something

used for telling someone that you have done something without their permission but you hope they approve of this:

I took the liberty of asking an old friend to join us for dinner.

take liberties with

1. ) to do more than you have been given permission to do in a way that offends someone

2. ) OLD-FASHIONED to touch someone in a sexual way without their permission

3. ) FORMAL to represent information in a way that is not exactly correct:

The government has taken liberties with the facts in order to support their case.