(no subject)

[ron.peterson at yellowbank.com]

On Fri, Nov 21, 2003 at 08:05:22PM -0500, Derek Atkins wrote:
> What is your definition of "free"?

Everyone seems to have their own personal Jesus these days.  And
likewise with the definition of free.  It's not that complicated.  Just
look the word up in a dictionary:

% dict free

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44
[gcide]:

  Free \Free\ (fr[=e]), a. [Compar. {Freer} (-[~e]r); superl.
     {Freest} (-[e^]st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. fre['o], fr[=i];
     akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr[=i], G. frei, Icel. fr[=i],
     Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved,
     dear, fr. pr[=i] to love, Goth. frij[=o]n. Cf. {Affray},
     {Belfry}, {Friday}, {Friend}, {Frith} inclosure.]
     1. Exempt from subjection to the will of others; not under
        restraint, control, or compulsion; able to follow one's
        own impulses, desires, or inclinations; determining one's
        own course of action; not dependent; at liberty.
        [1913 Webster]

              That which has the power, or not the power, to
              operate, is that alone which is or is not free.
                                                    --Locke.
        [1913 Webster]

Exempt from the subjection to the will of others.  That seems pretty
plain and simple to me.  The whys wherefors and whatnot of how this
definition has become so occluded elude me.

-- 
Ron Peterson                   -o)
87 Taylor Street               /\\
Granby, MA  01033             _\_v
https://www.yellowbank.com/   ---- 


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