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Definition: Free |
FreeAdjective1. Able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint; "free enterprise"; "a free port"; "a free country"; "I have an hour free"; "free will"; "free of racism"; "feel free to stay as long as you wish"; "a free choice". 2. (chemistry and physics) unconstrained or not chemically bound in a molecule or not fixed and capable of relatively unrestricted motion; "free expansion"; "free oxygen"; "a free electron". 3. Costing nothing; "complimentary tickets". 4. Not occupied or in use; "a free locker"; "a free lane". 5. Not fixed in position; "the detached shutter fell on him"; "he pulled his arm free and ran". 6. Not held in servitude; "after the Civil War he was a free man". 7. Not taken up by scheduled activities; "a free hour between classes"; "spare time on my hands". 8. Not literal; "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem". Adverb1. Without restraint; "cows in India are running loose". Noun1. People who are free; "the home of the free and the brave". Verb1. Grant freedom to; free from confinement. 2. Relieve from; "Rid the the house of pests". 3. Remove or force out from a position; "The dentist dislodged the piece of food that had been stuck under my gums"; "He finally could free the legs of the earthquake victim who was buried in the rubble". 4. Grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to; "She exempted me from the exam". 5. Make available or free for sale or publication. 6. Free from obligations or duties. 7. Free or remove obstruction from. 8. Let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility". 9. Part with. 10. : make available, as of assets; or free for sale or publication. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "free" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Computing | Free See free software, free variable. Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing. |
Finance | A market or exchange term indicating that there is a good demand for commodities or securities. Source: European Union. (references) |
Literature | Free A free and easy. A social gathering where persons meet together without formality to chat and smoke. Source: Brewer's Dictionary. |
Metallurgy | To remove the clamps. Source: European Union. (references) |
Mining | A. Native; uncombined with other elements, such as free gold or free silver (native gold or native silver) b. Chemically uncombined or readily obtainable in uncombined form byheating, as opposed to bound; e.g., free water or free oxygen. e.g., free water or free oxygen. (references) |
Post & Telecom | The condition of a line or of a piece of apparatus when it is not in use and is available for traffic. Source: European Union. (references) |
Slang in 1811 | FREE. Free of fumblers hall; a saying of one who cannot get his wife with child. Source: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
See:being important special cases.
- freedom, libre
- free software
- Free (band)
- gratis, free as in beer
- free object as in mathematics, with
- free group
- free abelian group
- free module
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Free was a R&B-styled rock band which formed in London in 1968.
Members
- Paul Rodgers -- Lead Vocals
- Paul Kossoff -- Lead Guitar
- Andy Fraser -- Bass Guitar
- Simon Kirke -- Drums
Discography
[1] Although having members of Free, it is not regarded as an official Free album.
- Tons of Sobs (1968)
- Free (1969)
- Fire and Water (1970)
- Highway (1970)
- Free Live! (1971) (live)
- Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu & Rabbit (1971) [1]
- Free at Last (1972)
- Heartbreaker (1973)
The following albums were issued after the band ceased recording:
see also: Bad Company
- The Free Story (1974)
- The Best of Free (1975)
- Free and Easy, Rough and Ready (1976)
- Completely Free (1982)
- All Right Now: The Best of Free (1991)
- Molten Gold: The Anthology (1994) (2 disc set)
- Songs of Yesterday (2000) (5 disc box set)
Stub alert!
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free (band)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The expression free as in beer refers to things which are available at no monetary cost (like free beer at a party). It can be contrasted with the expressions free as in speech or free as in freedom, which refer to something which is free of restrictions, as in the freedom of speech.Since the advent of the free software movement, these terms have entered frequent use, for categorising computer programs according to the licenses and legal fetters which cover them. The expression "free as in freedom" is also the title of a 2002 biography of Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation.
In French (and other Latin and shemic languages), the distinction is simpler, because the word free can be translated as gratuit (no cost, gratis in Latin) or libre (free of restrictions).
To some people (outside the particular context of software), "free beer" can imply free riding, or freeloading taking advantage of something that is not paid for.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free as in beer."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In mathematics, a group G is called free if there is a subset S of G such that any element of G can be written in one and only one way as a product of finitely many elements of S and their inverses (disregarding trivial variations such as st-1 = su-1ut-1). Note that the notion of free group is different from the notion free abelian group: in this case the order in the product matters.
Examples
The group (Z,+) of integers is free; we can take S = {1}. A free group on a two-element subset S occurs in the proof of the Banach-Tarski paradox and is described there.
Construction
If S is any set, there always exists a free group on S. This free group on S is essentially unique in the following sense: if F1 and F2 are two free groups on the set S, then F1 and F2 are isomorphic, and furthermore there exists precisely one group isomorphism f : F1 -> F2 such that f(s) = s for all s in S.
This free group on S is denoted by F(S) and can be constructed as follows. For every s in S, we introduce a new symbol s-1. We then form the set of all finite strings consisting of symbols of S and their inverses. Two such strings are considered equivalent if one arises from the other by replacing two adjacent symbols ss-1 or s-1s by the empty string. This generates an equivalence relation on the set of strings; its quotient set is defined to be F(S). Because the equivalence relation is compatible with string concatenation, F(S) becomes a group with string concatenation as operation.
If S is the empty set, then F(S) is the trivial group consisting only of its identity element.
Universal property
The free group on S is characterized by the following universal property: if G is any group and f : S -> G is any function, then there exists a unique group homomorphism T : F(S) -> G such that T(s) = f(s) for all s in S.
Free groups are thus instances of the more general concept of free objects in category theory. Like all universal constructions, they give rise to a pair of adjoint functors.
Facts and theorems
Any group G is a quotient group of some free group F(S). If S can be chosen to be finite here, then G is called finitely generated.
Any subgroup of a free group is free (Nielsen-Schreier theorem).
Any connected graph can be viewed as a path-connected topological space by treating an edge between two vertices as a continuous path between those vertices. With this understanding, the fundamental group of every connected graph is free. This fact can be used to prove the Nielsen-Schreier theorem.
If F is a free group on S and also on T, then S and T have the same cardinality. This cardinality is called the rank of the free group F.
If S has more than one element, then F(S) is not abelian, and in fact the center of F(S) is trivial (that is, consists only of the identity element).
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free group."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A free-market (free-trade or neo-liberal) economy is an idealized form of a market economy in which buyers and sellers are permitted to carry out transactions based on mutual agreement on price without government intervention in the form of taxes, subsidies, regulation, or government ownership of goods or services. The free market is considered the mainstay of ideologies such as minarchism and libertarianism and Western definitions of capitalism. It is anathema to communism and some variants of socialism, as defined in the West, although most variants of socialism seek to mitigate what they see as the problems of an unrestrained free market.
In reality there are no totally free or ideal markets in operation. Lack of perfect knowledge, monopolistic practices, cartels, taxes and government regulation bias the equilibrium points of most large markets in existence today. Participants engage in information bias practices such as insider trading and price fixing. Some believe that the notion of a free market is inherently inachievable because they believe that governments are fundamentally involved in markets through the creation and enforcement of property rights. Others argue that the concept of property comes from natural law and therefore it is incorrect to see governments as creating markets.
In the ideal free market, the law of supply and demand functions, influencing prices toward an equilibrium that balances the demands for the products against the supplies. At these equilibrium prices, the market distributes the products to the purchasers according to each purchaser's use (or utility) for each product and within the relative limits of each buyer's purchasing power. In the limited mathematical ideal market this distribution of products is Pareto Optimal (see Pareto efficiency), meaning that no purchaser could have their purchasing limits filled in a way more useful to them without reducing the usefulness of some other purchaser's bundle of products. This type of optimality doesn't necessarily have anything to say about the distribution of purchasing power itself (which is often an input to the mathematical ideal market) - the optimality generally refers to the distribution of products given the pre-existing purchasing power of the purchasers. The necessary components for the functioning of such a free market include no artificial price pressures from taxes, subsidies, tariffs, or government regulation, perfect (or at a minimum, equivalent) knowledge about the value of the goods, geographic availablity of goods to all people, and no artificial monopolies or other forms of economic coercion on the part of the actors.
The distribution of purchasing power in an economy depends to a large extent on the Labor market and the Financial markets, but also on other things such as family relationships, inheritance, gifts and so on. The ideal free market does not explain particularly well the performance of many real markets such as the Labor market, or Financial markets. It explains better the markets for consumers products.
The economic and political application of the concept of the ideal free market is known, primarily by detractors, as neoliberalism.
See: Austrian School, Friedrich Hayek, Adam Smith, command economy, capitalism, socialism, communism
See also: Free software, Nash equilibrium, Game theory
External links
- Definitions and Distinctions
- Free Market
- Capitalism
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free market."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A free module is a module having a free basis.For an R-module M, the set E = {e1, e2, ... en} is a free basis for M if and only if:
1) E is a generating set for M, that is to say every element of M is a sum of elements of E multiplied by coefficients in R.
2) if r1e1 + r2e2 + ... + rnen = 0, then r1 = r2 = ... = rn = 0 (where 0 is the identity element of M and 0 is the identity element of R).
If M has a free basis with n elements, then M is said to be free of rank n, or more generally free of finite rank.
Note that an immediate corollary of (2) is that the coefficients in (1) are unique for each x.
The definition of an infinite free basis is similar, except that E will have infinitely many elements. In general, the summation which generates the elements x of M may be infinite but must converge in whatever sense is appropriate for M. For some modules this will mean that it must be a finite sum, and thus that for any particular x only finitely many of the elements of E are involved.
In the case of an infinite basis, the rank of M is the cardinality of E.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free module."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The idea of a free object in mathematics is one of the basics of abstract algebra. It is part of universal algebra, in the sense that it relates to all types of algebraic structure (with finitary operations); but on the other hand it has a clean formulation in terms of category theory (in yet more abstract terms). It is probably better to master some special case such as free groups first.Starting from a familiar concept in group theory, of defining a group 'by generators and relations', we can say that in general a free object of a certain specific algebraic type will have 'generators and no relations'. Yet. If we want to use the method of generators and relations in generality, we split the approach up as (i) create an object with the generators which are left as general as possible; and then (ii) impose relations, in the form of an equivalence relation which is a congruence. Therefore in these terms from universal algebra we need to understand free objects for step (i), and the nature of congruences for step (ii).
An example would be free monoids. These are rather simpler than free groups: the free monoid on a set X, is the monoid of all finite strings using X as alphabet, with operation concatenation of strings. The identity is the empty string. (See Kleene star.)
As that example suggests, free objects look like constructions from syntax; and we can reverse that to some extent by saying that major uses of syntax can be explained and characterised as free objects, in a way that makes apparently heavy 'punctuation' explicable (and more memorable). An example for that is the way a free magma on X turns out to be the magma of binary trees labelled at the leaves by X. That construction generalises (from a single binary operation to any collection of 'arities') in a way the free object concept makes much more palatable. (See also Herbrand universe.)
In general, the setting for a free object is like this: a category C of algebraic structures (sets plus operations, obeying some laws) has a functor F to Sets, the category of sets and functions, that simply ignores the operations. We call F a forgetful functor. Free objects are created by a left adjoint G to F: for a set X the free object on X as 'generators' is G(X). There are general existence theorems that apply.
Other types of forgetfulness also give rise to objects quite like free objects: for example the tensor algebra construction on a vector space as left adjoint to the function on algebras over a field that ignores the algebra structure.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free object."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The term free software is used in essentially two different ways:
These definitions may conflict and a piece of software that is free in the first sense may not be free in the second, and vice versa.
- any software which may be copied and used without payment (think free beer)
- software that can be copied, used, studied, modified, distributed, etc., with few or no restrictions (think free speech and free market).
Free software of the "free speech" type is sometimes called "software libre", from the French "logiciel libre" and the Spanish "software libre". In fact, in many languages there isn't this conflict between free as in freedom and free as in "free beer": "libre" translates to "free" in the sense of "freedom". Free software of the other type is called "gratis", which translates to the "free" of "free beer".
"Free Beer" definition
Various types of free software in this sense exists:
Shareware is not a type of free software, since its license requires payment for use beyond a specified trial period. The payment typically has to be made by the user on an "honor system". Warez, software which is distributed for free by a third party in violation of its copyright license, is also not considered to be free software in this sense.
- freeware, software that can be distributed and used without cost. Few strings are attached; sometimes only private, non-commercial use is allowed. The software may not be modified, and sometimes may also not be redistributed.
- adware, freeware which displays advertisements during use. It is often installed without the consent of the installee.
- spyware, collects market research data and/or credit card numbers from the host computer. Also often (if not always) installed without consent.
- crippleware, software which can be used in a limited form for free; the enhanced version typically requires payment (see shareware).
- abandonware, software which is used and distributed in violation of copyright license, but for which copyright is not enforced any more
"Free Speech" definition
The freedom definition of "free software" has been championed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) of notable software author Richard Stallman, who codified his philosophy of software freedom in the 1980s.
The FSF has produced a specific free software definition; a software is "free" in this sense if it grants:
Number 2 requires access to the program's source code.
- the freedom to run the program for any purpose
- the freedom to study and modify the program
- the freedom to copy the program
- the freedom to redistribute modified or unmodified versions of the program
A list of compliant licenses is available from FSF's web site (see below). The term "proprietary software" is used for software distributed under more restrictive licenses which don't grant these freedoms. Usually, copyright law reserves most rights of modification, duplication and redistribution for the copyright owner; software released under a free software license specifically rescinds most of these reserved rights.
The FSF definition of free software does not touch on the issue of price; a commonly used slogan is "free as in speech, not as in beer", and it is common to see CDs of free software such as Linux distributions for sale. However, in this situation the buyer of the CD would have the right to copy and distribute his CD. The FSF definition of free software in fact can conflict with the free beer definition of software. Many free beer software applications forbid the end user from commercially profiting from the software or otherwise charging for the software. This conflicts with the right to redistribute.
To avoid confusion, some people use the words "libre" and "gratis" to avoid the ambiguity of the English word "free". However, these alternative terms are still used mostly within the free software movement and are only slowly spreading to the outside world. Others advocate the term open source software but the relationship between this term of free software is complex and will be more fully explained below.
There are many variations on free software:
See free software licenses for more information.
- Public domain software, in which the author has abandoned the copyright. Public-domain software, since it is not protected by copyright at all, may be freely incorporated into closed, proprietary works as well as free ones.
- BSD-style licensess, so called because they are applied to much of the software distributed with the BSD operating systems. The author under such licenses retains copyright protection solely to disclaim warranty and to require proper attribution of modified works, but permits redistribution and modification, even in proprietary works.
- Copyleft licenses, the most prominent of which are the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License. The author retains copyright, and permits redistribution and modification under terms designed to ensure that all modified versions of the software remain under copyleft terms.
Note that the original copyright owner of copyleft-licensed software can also make a modified version under their original copyright, and sell it under any license they like, in addition to distributing the original version as free software. This technique has been used as a business model by a number of free software companies; this does not restrict any of the rights granted to the users of the copyleft version.
A large, and ever-growing, amount of software is made available under free software licenses; observers of this trend (and adherents to it) often refer to this phenomenon as the free software movement. Notable free software projects include the Linux and BSD operating system kernels, the GCC compiler, GDB debugger and C libraries, the BIND name server, the Sendmail mail transport server, the Apache web server, the MySQL and PostgreSQL relational database systems, the Perl, Python, Tcl and PHP programming languages, the X Window System, the GNOME and KDE desktop environments, the OpenOffice office suite, the Mozilla web browser and the GIMP graphics editor.
Like all free software, these projects distribute their programs under licenses that grant users all the freedoms discussed above, but because of technicalities in the licenses, combining programs by mixing source code or directly linking binaries may be problematic unless both applications are under mutually compatible licenses.
However, when programs are not directly linked together into a single program, these problems do not exist. Much free software can run on non-free platforms such as Microsoft Windows, and non-free software can be run on free platforms, although purists prefer to use all-free software running on a free platform such as Linux. Free software packages constitute a software ecosystem where different pieces of software can provide services to one another, leading to co-evolution of features: in one simple example, the Python programming language provides support for the HTTP protocol, and the Apache web server that provides the HTTP protocol can call the Python programming language to serve dynamic content.
The Debian Project, which produces an operating system completely composed of free software, created a set of guidelines called which are used to evaluate the freedom of a license before including software licensed like that into Debian. The Debian Free Software Guidelines cover:
Debian has collected over seven and a half thousand software packages compliant with the above guidelines (2003).
- free redistribution
- inclusion of source code
- modifications and derived works
- integrity of the author's source code (as a compromise for the likes of TeX)
- no discrimination against persons or groups
- no discrimination against fields of endeavor, like commercial use
- distribution of license, it needs to apply to all to whom the program is redistributed
- license must not be specific to Debian, basically a reiteration of the last point
- license must not contaminate other software
- example licenses -- GPL, BSD, Artistic
Recently, Debian developers have started arguing for the application of the same principles not only in software, but in software documentation as well. Many documents written by the Linux Documentation Project and some documents licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License do not comply with all of the above guidelines.
Comparison with Open Source software
The Open Source movement, which is philosophically distinct from the free software movement, was created by a group of people who formed the Open Source Initiative (OSI). They sought (1) to bring a higher profile to the practical benefits of sharing software source code, and (2) to interest major software houses and other high-tech industry companies in the concept. These advocates see the term open source as avoiding the ambiguity of the English word "free" in free software. Many people recognise a qualitative benefit to the software development process when a program's source code can be used, modified and redistributed by developers.
Since the OSI places emphasis on the pragmatic benefits of access to the program's source code, rather than focusing on user and programmer freedoms, the FSF has distanced itself both from the Open Source movement and from the term "Open Source". The free software movement places primary emphasis on the moral or ethical aspects of software, seeing technical excellence as a desirable by-product of its ethical standard. The Open Source movement sees technical excellence as the primary goal, regarding source code sharing as a means to an end.
In all cases, licenses which qualify as free software licenses also qualify as open source licenses. However, the reverse is a different matter since the Open Source Definition (OSD) does not explicitly and unambiguously state a requirement that open source licenses grant people the right to copy their software. For example, nowhere in the OSD or its rationale is the word "copy" included. Rather, some interpret the OSD as treating software like cars which you can inspect, tinker, modify and even resell ("redistribute"), while making copies is a different matter which the OSD never addresses. Note, however, that many interpret the term "redistribution" as used in the OSD to include copying. (The OSD is a modified form of the Debian Free Software Guidelines.)
If the OSD is treated as a distribution scheme, as Richard Stallman holds, then the right to copy software is necessarily implied by any OSD license. This view is strengthened by statements made by backers of the OSD that the term "open source software" is simply a "marketing campaign for Free Software". However, the proliferation of use licenses (notably by Microsoft) has led many people to believe that a license is required to run software. From that perspective, the OSD (by itself) does not grant nor imply any right to copy software unless the term "redistribute" is interpreted as including the act of copying.
Since the OSI only approves free software licenses as complying with the OSD, most people interpret it as a distribution scheme, and freely interchange 'open source' with 'free software'. And even though there are important philosophical differences between the two terms, particularly in terms of the motivations for developing and using such software, they seldom make any impact in the collaboration process.
While the term "Open Source" removes the ambiguity of Freedom versus Price, it introduces another - between programs that meet the Open Source Definition, giving users the freedom to improve upon them, and programs that simply have source available, possibly with heavy restrictions on the use of that source. Many people believe that any software that has source available is open source, because they can tinker with it themselves. However, much of this software does not give its users the freedom to distribute their modifications, restricts commercial usage, or otherwise removes users' rights.
Political significance
Since free software allows free use, modification, and distribution, it often finds a home in third world countries for whom the cost of proprietary software is sometimes too high. It is also easily modified locally, so translation efforts into languages which are not necessarily commercially profitable are also feasible. See also internationalization.
Most free software is produced by international teams cooperating through free association. Teams typically are composed of individuals with a wide variety of motivations. There are many stances about the relation of free software to the current, capitalist economic system:
- Some consider free software to be a competitor to capitalism
- Some consider free software to be another form of competition within free markets.
- Groups like Oekonux consider that everything could be produced in this manner and that this mode of production has the potential to superceed the capitalist mode of production.
See also
- Free audio software
- List of free game software
External links and references
- The FSF's free software definition
- FSF's philosophy collection on software and information freedoms
- FSF list of free software licenses
- The Open Source Initiative
- Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS)? Look at the Numbers! - David Wheeler's quantitative analysis of the advantages of open-source software by an exhaustive review of published studies, analyses, and news stories.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free software."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Generally speaking, free software license is a phrase used by the free software movement to mean any software license that grants users of the software the following four freedoms:
A license which preserves those freedoms for modified works is a copyleft license. See Free software movement for more information.
- The freedom to run the program for any purpose
- The freedom to study and modify the program
- The freedom to copy the program
- The freedom to redistribute modified versions of the program
The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free software licenses at their web site. The list distinguishes between free software licenses that are compatible or incompatible with the FSF license of choice, the GNU General Public License, which is a copyleft license. The list also contains licenses which the FSF considers non-free for various reasons. The list, which differs slightly from the open source license list, can be found at http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/license-list.html See also:
- Free software
- Free Software Foundation
- Open source license
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free software license."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Free trade is an economic concept referring to the selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers. International trade is often constricted by different national taxes, other fees imposed on exported and imported goods, as well as non-tariff regulations on imported goods; free trade is against all these restrictions.Some multi-national entities, such as the European Union, have implemented free trade in some forms between their member nations (customs union). However, there is continuing debate whether free trade would help third world nations with different economic problems and whether free trade is good for the developed world.
Arguments for and against free trade
Many economists argue that free trade increases the standard of living through the law of comparative advantage and economies of scale. Others argue that free trade allows developed nations to exploit developing nations and to destroy local industry in addition to circumventing social and labor standards. Conversely it has also been argued that free trade hurts developed nations because it causes jobs from those nations to move to other countries as well as producing a race to the bottom which causes a general lowering of health and safety standards.
In addition, the current implementation of free trade has been criticized by advocates of free trade itself. One complaint is that developed nations tend to insist that developing nations open their markets to industrial products from the developed world, yet refuse to open their markets to agricultural goods from the developing world. Furthermore it has been noted that the current concept of free trade supports the free movement of products and employers, which favors the developed nations, but not the free movement of employees (i.e., labor), which would favor the people of developing nations. (See also: Immigration.)
Intellectual property and free trade
Historically, the free trade movement was skeptical and even hostile to the notion of intellectual property, regarded as monopolistic and harmful to a free, competitive economy. Indeed, during the late 19th century, free trade advocates succeeded in reducing the length of the patents available in many European countries. The Netherlands even abolished its patent system (temporarily, as it turned out).
The 19th century anti-patent cause failed largely because the recession of 1874 discredited the free trade movement of the time (and also because patent advocates used a public relations campaign which was remarkably sophisticated for its time).
It is thus quite remarkable (some would even say ironic) that corporations lobbying for expanded intellectual property privileges have succeeded in including TRIPS, a very strong treaty on intellectual property rights, as a membership requirement for the World Trade Organization, the international organization dedicated to furthering the cause of free trade.
See also
- Free market
- International trade
- Privatization
References
- Fritz Machlup & Edith Penrose, "The Patent Controversy in the 19th Century", Journal of Economic History, 10 (1) pp 1-29, 1950.
Links
Pro-free trade/free-market
- Arguments for Free Trade from the Mises Institute
- Lewrockwell.com
- The Cato Institute's Free Trade website
- Techcentralstation.com
- The Heritage Foundation
- The Future of Freedom Foundation
- The Heartland Institute
- The Foundation for Economic Education
- The American Enterprise Institute
- The Timbro Institute (Sweden)
Opponents of free trade
- United States Reform Party
- Ross Perot
- Pat Buchanan
- AFL-CIO
- Ralph Nader
- US Green Party
- Indymedia.org
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Free trade."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Freedom has various uses:
See also: free, free software, liberty, Human rights
- Freedom the political right, or legal capacity, of self-determination, as an expression of the individual will
- Freedom of the will as a human capacity considered philosophically
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of the press
- Freedom in the context of software with "no restrictions on use" for any purpose
- Freedom, a British Anarchist newspaper
- Freedom a town in New York
- Freedom, a US Space station incorporated into the International Space Station in November 1993
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Freedom."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
In mathematics, groups are often used to describe symmetries of objects. This is formalized by the notion of a group action: every element of the group "acts" like a bijective map (or "symmetry") on some set. In this case, the group is also called a transformation group of the set.
Definition
If G is a group and X is a set, then a (left) group action of G on X is a binary function G × X -> X (where the image of g in G and x in X is written as g.x) which satisfies the following two axioms:
From these two axioms, it follows that for every g in G, the function which maps x in X to g.x is a bijective map from X to X. Therefore, one may alternatively and equivalently define a group action of G on X as a group homomorphism G -> Sym(X), where Sym(X) denotes the group of all bijective maps from X to X.
- g.(h.x) = (gh).x for all g, h in G and x in X.
- e.x = x for every x in X; here e denotes the identity element of G.
If a group action G × X -> X is given, we also say that G acts on the set X or X is a G-set.
In complete analogy, one can define a right group action of G on X as a function X × G -> X by the two axioms (x.g).h = x.(gh) and x.e = x. In the sequel, we consider only left group actions.
Examples
- Every group G acts on G in two natural ways: g.x = (gx) for all x in G, or g.x = (gxg -1) for all x in G.
- The symmetric group Sn and its subgroups act on the set { 1, ... , n } by permutating its elements.
- The symmetry group of a polyhedron acts on the set of vertices of that polyhedron.
- The symmetry group of any geometrical object acts on the set of points of that object.
- The automorphism group of a vector space (or graph, or group, or ring...) acts on the vector space (or set of vertices of the graph, or group, or ring...).
- The Lie groups Gl(n,R), SL(n,R) and O(n,R) act on Rn.
- The Galois group of a field extension E/F acts on the bigger field E. So does every subgroup of the Galois group.
- The additive group of the real numbers (R, +) acts on the phase space of "well-behaved" systems in classical mechanics (and in more general dynamical systems): if t is in R and x is in the phase space, then x describes a state of the system, and t.x is defined to be the state of the system t seconds later if t is positive or -t seconds ago if t is negative.
Types of actions
The action of G on X is called
Every free action on a non-empty set is faithful. A group G that acts faithfully on a set X is isomorphic to a permutation group on X. An action is regular if and only if it is transitive and free.
- transitive if for any two x, y in X there exists an g in G such that g.x = y;
- simply transitive if for any two x, y in X there exists precisely one g in G such that g.x = y.
- faithful (or effective) if for any two different g, h in G there exists an x in X such that g.x ≠ h.x;
- free if for any two different g, h in G and all x in X we have g.x ≠ h.x;
Orbits and stabilizers
If we define N = {g in G : g.x = x for all x in X}, then N is a normal subgroup of G and the factor group G/N acts faithfully on X by setting (gN).x = g.x. The action of G on X is faithful if and only if N = {e}.
If Y is a subset of X, we write GY for the set { g.y : y in Y and g in G}. We call the subset Y invariant under G if GY = Y (which is equivalent to GY ⊆ Y). In that case, G also operates on Y. The subset Y is called fixed under G if g.y = y for all g in G and all y in Y. Every subset that's fixed under G is also invariant under G, but not vice versa.
Any operation of G on X defines an equivalence relation on X: two elements x and y are called equivalent if there exists a g in G with g.x = y. The equivalence class of x under this equivalence relation is given by the set Gx = { g.x : g in G } which is also called the orbit of x. The elements x and y are equivalent if and only if their orbits are the same: Gx = Gy. Every orbit is an invariant subset of X on which G acts transitively. The action of G on X is transitive if and only if all elements are equivalent, meaning that there is only one orbit. The set of all orbits is written as X/G.
For every x in X, we define Gx = { g in G : g.x = x }. This is a subgroup of G, and it is called the stabilizer of x or isotropy subgroup at x. The action of G on X is free if and only if all stabilizers consist only of the identity element.
There is a natural bijection between the set of all left cosets of the subgroup Gx and the orbit of x, given by hGx |-> h.x. Therefore, |Gx| = [G : Gx], and so
This result, known as the orbit-stabilizer theorem, is especially useful if G and X are finite, because then it can be employed for counting arguments. A related result is Burnside's lemma:
where r is the number of orbits, and Xg is the set of points fixed by g. This result too is mainly of use when G and X are finite, when it can be interpreted as follows: the number of orbits is equal to the average number of points fixed per group element.
Morphisms and isomorphisms between G-sets
If X and Y are two G-sets, we define a morphism from X to Y to be a function f : X -> Y such that f(g.x) = g.f(x) for all g in G and all x in X. If such a function f is bijective, then its inverse is also a morphism, and we call f an isomorphism and the two G-sets X and Y are called isomorphic; for all practical purposes, they are indistinguishable in this case.
Some example isomorphisms:
With this notion of morphism, the collection of all G-sets forms a category; this category is a topos.
- Every regular G action is isomorphic to the action of G on G given by left multiplication.
- Every free G action is isomorphic to G×S, where S is some set and G acts by left multiplication on the first coordinate.
- Every transitive G action is isomorphic to left multiplication by G on the set of left cosets of some subgroup H of G.
Generalizations
One often considers continuous group actions: the group G is a topological group, X is a topological space, and the map G × X → X is continuous with respect to the product topology of G × X. The space X is also called a G-space in this case. This is indeed a generalization, since every group can be considered a topological group by using the discrete topology. All the concepts introduced above still work in this context, however we define morphisms between G-spaces to be continuous maps compatible with the action of G. The above statements about isomorphisms for regular, free and transitive actions are no longer valid for continuous group actions.
One can also consider actions of monoids on sets, by using the same two axioms as above. This does not define bijective maps and equivalence relations however.
Instead of actions on sets, one can define actions of groups and monoids on objects of an arbitrary category: start with an object X of some category, and then define an action on X as a monoid homomorphism into the monoid of endomorphisms of X. If X has an underlying set, then all definitions and facts stated above can be carried over. For example, if we take the category of vector spaces, we obtain group representations in this fashion.
One can view a group G as a category with a single object in which every morphism is invertible. A group action is then nothing but a functor from G to the category of sets, and a group representation is a functor from G to the category of vector spaces. In analogy, an action of a groupoid is a functor from the groupoid to the category of sets or to some other category.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Group action."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
FREE | English | Fast Reticle Equipment for Europe | Computing, European Union |
| FRC | English | Free carrier named point | Insurance, Transportation |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: FreeSynonyms: complimentary (adj), costless (adj), detached (adj), gratis(p) (adj), gratuitous (adj), liberal (adj), loose (adj), spare (adj), free people (n), absolve (v), discharge (v), disembarrass (v), disengage (v), dislodge (v), exempt (v), give up (v), justify (v), liberate (v), release (v), relieve (v), relinquish (v), rid (v), unblock (v), unfreeze (v), unloose (v). (additional references) |
| Synonym by domain: all-inclusive (transportation). |
| Antonyms: bound (adj), slave(a) (adj), unfree (adj), blame (v), confine (v), enforce (v), freeze (v), lodge (v), obstruct (v). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Cheapness | Gratuitous, gratis, free, for nothing; costless, expenseless; without charge, not charged, untaxed; scotfree, shotfree, rent-free; free of cost, free of expense; honorary, unbought, unpaid. |
Completeness | Regular, consummate, unmitigated, sheer, unqualified, unconditional, free; abundant; (sufficient). |
Disjunction | Adjective: disjoined; Verb: discontinuous; abstract; disjunctive; secant; isolated; Verb: insular, separate, disparate, discrete, apart, asunder, far between, loose, free; unattached, unannexed, unassociated, unconnected; distinct; adrift; straggling; rift, reft. |
Exemption | Exempt, release, acquit, discharge, quitclaim, remise, remit; free, set at liberty, let off, pass over, spare, excuse, dispense with, give dispensation, license; stretch a point; absolve; (forgive); exonerate; (exculpate); save the necessity. |
Adjective: exempt, free, immune, at liberty, scot-free; released; Verb: unbound, unencumbered; irresponsible, unaccountable, not answerable; excusable. | |
Facility | Render easy; Adjective: facilitate, smooth, ease; popularize; lighten, lighten the labor; free, clear; disencumber, disembarrass, disentangle, disengage; deobstruct, unclog, extricate, unravel; untie the knot, cut the knot; disburden, unload, exonerate, emancipate, free from, deoppilate; humor; (aid); lubricate; relieve. |
Impurity | Adjective: impure; unclean; (dirty); not to be mentioned to ears polite; immodest, shameless; indecorous, indelicate, indecent; Fescennine; loose, risque, coarse, gross, broad, free, equivocal, smutty, fulsome, ribald, obscene, bawdy, pornographic. |
Liberality | Adjective: liberal, free, generous; charitable; (beneficent); hospitable; bountiful, bounteous; handsome; unsparing, ungrudging; unselfish; open handed, free handed, full handed; open hearted, large hearted, free hearted; munificent, princely. |
Liberation | Verb: liberate, free; set free, set clear, set at liberty; render free, emancipate, release; enfranchise, affranchise; manumit; enlarge; disband, discharge, disenthrall, disenthral, dismiss; let go, let loose, loose, let out, let slip; cast adrift, turn adrift; deliver; absolve; (acquit). |
Will | Adjective: voluntary, volitional, willful; free; optional; discretional, discretionary; volitient, volitive. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Free to those that can afford it, very expensive to those that can't (Withnail and I; writing credit: Bruce Robinson.) Whenever it is,it's still the best interest free loan you'll ever get. (The Firm; writing credit: David Rabe) Now, since it was all free, and I wasn't hungry but thirsty, I must've drank me fifteen Dr. Peppers (Forrest Gump; writing credit: Eric Roth) I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey who's conclusion is uncertain (Shawshank Redemption; writing credit: Frank Darabont) I guess they'd rather be alive than free. Poor dumb bastards (Full Metal Jacket; writing credit: Gustav Hasford, Michael Herr, Stanley Kubrick) | |
Lyrics | Free your mind and the rest will follow (Free Your Mind; performing artist: En Vogue) Free, free, set them free (If You Love Somebody Set Them Free; performing artist: Sting) I'm Free To Decide, I'm free to decide (Free To Decide; performing artist: The Cranberries) I wanna be free, (I Wanna be Free; performing artist: The Monkees) The soda pop came free (The Dean And I; performing artist: 10CC) | |
Clever | Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free (references; author: unknown) Talk is cheap: Barbers give it away free with haircuts. (references; author: unknown) The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable. (references; author: unknown) Marriage is an expensive way of getting your laundry done for free. (references; author: unknown) Pride, commitment, teamwork--words we use to get you to work for free. (references; author: unknown) | |
Tongue Twisters | Few free fruit flies fly from flames. (references; author: unknown) There are free fleas for all the loyal royalty. (references; author: unknown) They have left the thriftshop, and lost both their theatre tickets and the volume of valuable licenses and coupons for free theatrical frills and thrills. (references; author: unknown) Three free throws. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Born Free (1974) Amore libero - Free Love (1974) Free to Be... You & Me (1974) Easy to Be Free (1973) Free (1973) | |
Song Titles | Love Sets You Free (performing artist: Kelly Price) The Best Things In Life Are Free (performing artist: Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson) I Wanna Be Free (performing artist: The Monkees) Free (performing artist: Mya) Thought Stayed Free (performing artist: Tom Paxton) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References |
| ||
Books |
| ||
Periodicals | |||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
| ||
High Tech |
| ||
Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | The earliest visible stage of HIV replication occurs when viral proteins accumulate under the cell membrane in a process called budding (a). In the next stage a crescent shaped early bud has constricted, forming a membrane-encapsulated sphere, with the dense center called a viral nucleoid (b). As the constricting process continues, the virus pinches off and becomes free extracellular infectious virus (c). At this stage, the dark circular mucleoid condenses into a bar; this morphologic feature is used to discriminate HIV-I from HTLV-II and HTLV-III. See artwork: GR-31. Credit: Dr. Matthew Gonda (photographer). |  | Slide shows researcher using electron spin resonance spectroscopy to examine the role of free radicals in promoting anticancer drug activity as well as in the development of drug resistance. Credit: Bill Branson (Photographer). |
 | The phagosome membrane is disintegrating. To the far left is a rickettsia free within the host cell cytoplasm. Between the rickettsias is a mitochondrion. Transmission electron micrograph. Credit: CDC. |  | Transmission electron micrograph of HIV-1, budding and free. Credit: CDC. |
 | Apollo Free Flight Ablation Test. Credit: NASA. |  | Most of the eastern U.S. was cloud free October 11. Such widespread cloudlessness in this part of the world is rare. These clear skies are associated with a region of high pressure over the eastern central U.S. Credit: NASA. |
 | Mark Lee Tetherless and Free. Credit: NASA. |  | X-38 Ship #2 in Free Flight. Credit: NASA. |
 | Lieutenant Jack Bond - victim of a salt-water crocodile attack Newspaper article from the Philippine Free Press. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Pelican's seeking the proverbial free lunch as they follow a fishing vessel. Credit: America's Coastlines. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Free as a bird" by Uschi Hering Commentary: "Scene in a small harbour." | "CeBIT2003 - Microsoft free zon" by Julia Eisenberg Commentary: "CeBIT2003 - Microsoft free zone." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Play | Caption |
 | Bubble; pop; future; space; science fiction; breach; bare; break in; break out; broach; burst; bust in; come apart; crack; disclose; display; disrupt; expand; expose; fissure; free; gap; gape; hole; jimmy; kick in; lacerate; lance; penetrate; perforate; p. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Aristotle | The law is reason free from passion. |
Epictetus | Only the educated are free. |
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | Resolve and thou art free. |
| Resolve, and thou art free. | |
Horace | We are free to yield to truth. |
| The pure in life and free from sin. | |
Ludwig Boerne | To want to be free is to be free. |
Milton Friedman | There's no such thing as a free lunch. |
Robert Browning | So free we seem, so fettered we are! |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Magna Carta | 1215 | No one shall be distrained for performance of greater service for a knight's fee, or for any other free tenement, than is due therefrom. (reference) |
John Locke | 1690 | If this made the father free, it shall make the son free too. (Second Treatise of Government) |
US Declaration of Independence | 1776 | A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. (reference) |
US Constitution | 1791 | Clause 3: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. (reference) |
US Bill of Rights | 1795 | Amendment II. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. (reference) |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | Free education for all children in public schools. (reference) |
The Emancipation Proclamation | 1862 | And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all case when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages. (Abraham Lincoln) |
Treaty of Versailles | 1919 | Germany must keep these areas free from mines. (reference) |
Winston S. Churchill | 1946 | Athens alone - Greece with its immortal glories - is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and French observation. ("Iron Curtain" Speech) |
United Nations | 1948 | Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. (reference) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Alice in Wonderland | Carroll, Lewis | If I or she should chance to be Involved in this affair, He trusts to you to set them free, Exactly as we were |
A Christmas Carol | Dickens, Charles | It sought to free itself, but he was strong in his entreaty, and detained it. |
Scarlet Letter | Hawthorne, Nathaniel | Hester would not set him free, lest he should look her sternly in the face |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | This abdication makes him free. |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | Fleming had a box of crayons and one night during free study he had coloured the earth green and the clouds maroon |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | Children straining to be free and quiet parents holding them back |
Gulliver's Travels | Swift, Jonathan | Whether they were always so free from avarice, partialities, or want, that a bribe, or some other sinister view, could have no place among them |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | Rise free from care before the dawn, and seek adventures |
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead | Tom Stoppard | Guildenstern: Where? Rosencrantz: It's all right - I'm demonstrating the misuse of free speech |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Many free radical scavengers are known. (references) | |
Free radicals -- see oxygen free radicals. (references) | ||
Drink clean water, free from contamination. (references) | ||
Business | Expand the Duty Free Zone area in Szczecin. (references) | |
Outside the free zones, no incentives are given. (references) | ||
Comcel is leading the free Internet service market. (references) | ||
Children | Croatia | Medical care for children is free. (references) |
Sri Lanka | Health care, including immunization, also is free. (references) | |
Greece | University education is public and free at all levels. (references) | |
Civil Liberties | Panama | Singares is free during his appeal. (references) |
Benin | Religious groups are free from taxation. (references) | |
Germany | Muslim students are free to wear headscarves. (references) | |
Discrimination | Brazil | The entity gives free legal assistance to homosexuals suffering from discrimination or who are victims of verbal or physical hate crimes. (references) |
Monaco | It differentiates between rights that are accorded to nationals (including preference in employment, free education, and assistance to the ill or unemployed) and those accorded to all residents, for example, freedom of religion and inviolability of the home. (references) | |
Economic History | Oman | Oman promotes a free market economy. (references) |
Human Rights | Poland | He remained free pending his appeal. (references) |
Chile | All were free on bail at year's end. (references) | |
Cape Verde | Free counsel is provided for the indigent. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Guyana | Both Amerindian individuals and groups remain free to criticize the Government. (references) |
Tunisia | Amazighs are free to participate in politics and to express themselves culturally. (references) | |
Colombia | Indigenous communities are free to educate their children in traditional dialects and in the observance of cultural and religious customs. (references) | |
Minorities | Estonia | Some ethnic Russian representatives have asked for free language training. (references) |
Nauru | While foreign workers are provided free housing, the shelters they are given often are maintained poorly and are overcrowded. (references) | |
Albania | Classes in Macedonian are available to students in the area; the Macedonian Government provides texts for these classes free of charge. (references) | |
Political Economy | JAMAICA | No free zone factory is unionized. (references) |
SWEDEN | Most raw materials are imported duty free. (references) | |
Taiwan | Taiwan has a dynamic, export-oriented, free market economy. (references) | |
Political Rights | Paraguay | Debate in Congress is free and frank. (references) |
Jordan | The process generally was regarded as free and fair. (references) | |
Monaco | The 1998 National Council elections were free and fair. (references) | |
Trade | Japan | Japan has no free trade zones. (references) |
Chile | Punta Arenas also has a free port. (references) | |
Finland | Finland has one free port in Hanko. (references) | |
Travel | Ghana | The personal baggage of a visitor is admitted free of duty. (references) |
Mauritius | It is considered malaria free as only a few cases are reported annually. (references) | |
South Africa | Access to the CABB is free of charge to anyone with a computer and a modem. (references) | |
Women | Marshall Islands | At year's end, both were free on bail awaiting further judicial action. (references) |
Saudi Arabia | Women have access to free but segregated education through the university level. (references) | |
Israel and the occupied territories | While they cannot be "placed" in combat positions, they are free to volunteer for such units. (references) | |
Worker Rights | Ukraine | Enterprise managers are free to join the FPU. (references) |
Luxembourg | Unions operate free of governmental interference. (references) | |
Congo | Any worker is free to join a union of his choice. (references) | |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | HEAD-:MONEY:, n. A capitation tax, or poll-tax. In ancient times there lived a king Whose tax-collectors could not wring From all his subjects gold enough To make the royal way less rough. For pleasure's highway, like the dames Whose premises adjoin it, claims Perpetual repairing. So The tax-collectors in a row Appeared before the throne to pray Their master to devise some way To swell the revenue. "So great," Said they, "are the demands of state A tithe of all that we collect Will scarcely meet them. Pray reflect: How, if one-tenth we must resign, Can we exist on t'other nine?" The monarch asked them in reply: "Has it occurred to you to try The advantage of economy?" "It has," the spokesman said: "we sold All of our gray garrotes of gold; With plated-ware we now compress The necks of those whom we assess. Plain iron forceps we employ To mitigate the miser's joy Who hoards, with greed that never tires, That which your Majesty requires." Deep lines of thought were seen to plow Their way across the royal brow. "Your state is desperate, no question; Pray favor me with a suggestion." "O King of Men," the spokesman said, "If you'll impose upon each head A tax, the augmented revenue We'll cheerfully divide with you." As flashes of the sun illume The parted storm-cloud's sullen gloom, The king smiled grimly. "I decree That it be so -- and, not to be In generosity outdone, Declare you, each and every one, Exempted from the operation Of this new law of capitation. But lest the people censure me Because they're bound and you are free, 'Twere well some clever scheme were laid By you this poll-tax to evade. I'll leave you now while you confer With my most trusted minister." The monarch from the throne-room walked And straightway in among them stalked A silent man, with brow concealed, Bare-armed -- his gleaming axe revealed! G.J. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Angelina Jolie | Well, I think that because they were artists and they are artists, the best thing that happened is they were very expressive and they were very encouraging of me to be a free spirit and to be open. |
David Letterman | Nothing's wrong with your brother, but you know by now they're in it for the free meal. You must know by now that that's why they're here. Of course, look at them. |
Dennis Miller | The balance between a free society and a safe society is a difficult one. |
Lynne Cheney | V is for valor. V is for the valor shown by those who have kept us free. And it's a page mostly about military heroes. |
Mark Shields | Mr. Card, in the first week of October President Bush became the first Republican president to declare in favor and support of a free Palestinian state. |
Rush Limbaugh | Rich or poor, free or enslaved, north or south, oil is literally the fuel of the engine of human activity. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
Thomas Jefferson | 1801-1809 | For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security. |
Herbert C. Hoover | 1929-1933 | Fortunately the New World is largely free from the inheritances of fear and distrust which have so troubled the Old World. |
Harry S. Truman | 1945-1953 | Democracy holds that free nations can settle differences justly and maintain lasting peace. |
Dwight Eisenhower | 1953-1961 | At such a time in history, we who are free must proclaim anew our faith. |
John F. Kennedy | 1961-1963 | Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free. |
Richard Nixon | 1969-1974 | Well, one of the strengths of our free society is that any American has a right to reach that conclusion and to advocate that point of view. |
Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | Some will say our mission is to save free enterprise. |
George Bush | 1989-1993 | Men and women of the world move toward free markets through the door to prosperity. |
Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | Hunters must always be free to hunt. |
George W. Bush | 2001-2005 | Today women are free, and are part of Afghanistan's new government. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Free" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 92.47% of the time. "Free" is used about 20,845 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 92.47% | 19,275 | 468 |
| Lexical Verb (infinitive) | 3.94% | 822 | 8,513 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 3.42% | 713 | 9,416 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.13% | 28 | 65,706 |
| Adverb (general) | 0.02% | 5 | 157,705 |
| Total | 100.00% | 20,845 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "free" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| Free | Last name | 4,000 | 2,951 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
| The following table summarizes names derived from the word "free". | |||
| Name | Gender | Language | Meaning |
| Helez | N/A | Biblical | Set free |
| Jehonadab | N/A | Biblical | Free giver |
| Nadab | N/A | Biblical | Free and voluntary gift |
| Freeman | Male | English | A free man |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
| |||
| Country | Name | Country | Name |
| China | Shanghai Wai Gaoqiao Free Trade Zone Development Co., Ltd. | Greece | Hellenic Duty Free Shops S.A. |
| Mexico | Latinoamericana Duty Free S.A. de C.V. | Netherlands | Free Record Shop Holding |
| South Africa | Free State Development and Investment Corp. Ltd. | USA | Be Free Incorporated |
| (more examples...) |
Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.
Expressions using "free": a free hand ♦ admission free ♦ any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no ♦ Arthritis Foundation Aspirin Free ♦ Aspirin Free Anacin ♦ Aspirin Free Excedrin ♦ be free ♦ be free from care ♦ be free with one ♦ be free with one's favours ♦ be set free ♦ Be Set Free Fast ♦ being free of occupation ♦ Bilge free ♦ break free ♦ call free ♦ camped on free or busy station ♦ carriage free ♦ co free love ♦ connect when free ♦ copious free time ♦ Cost free ♦ density of free electrons ♦ distribution free statistic ♦ duty free ♦ duty free allowances ♦ duty free articles ♦ duty free shop ♦ european free trade association ♦ feel free ♦ feel free to do smth. ♦ for free ♦ free admission ♦ free agency ♦ free agent ♦ free air ionisation chamber ♦ free air ionization chamber ♦ free air overpressure ♦ free air peak overpressure ♦ free airport ♦ free alongside ship value ♦ free and accepted masons ♦ free and easy ♦ free and easy manners ♦ free and voluntary desistance ♦ free area ♦ free association ♦ free back ♦ free baggage allowance ♦ free balloon ♦ Free base ♦ Free bench ♦ Free board ♦ Free bond ♦ free burning ♦ free carbon ♦ free carrier absorption ♦ free central placentation ♦ Free chapel ♦ Free charge ♦ free choice ♦ Free church ♦ free circulation ♦ free cities ♦ Free city ♦ Free coinage ♦ free company ♦ free competition ♦ free composition ♦ free copy ♦ Free cost ♦ free coupler connector ♦ free cyanide ♦ free day ♦ free drop ♦ free economy ♦ free eddy ♦ free election ♦ free electron ♦ free energy ♦ free energy deficit ♦ free energy Helmholtz ♦ free enery ♦ free enterprise ♦ free enterprise economy ♦ free entertainment ♦ free entry ♦ free fall ♦ free fatty acids ♦ free fight ♦ free fighter ♦ free flight ♦ free flight rocket ♦ free for all ♦ free form ♦ free format ♦ free from ♦ free from all illusions ♦ free from bias ♦ free from care ♦ free from debt. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "free": free-agency, free-air, free-and-easy, free-arm, free-asset, free-associate, free-associates, free-association, free-as-the-wind, free-base, free-based, free-basers, free-basing, free-bass, free-blow, free-blown, free-born, Free-borough men, free-borrowing, free-bound, free-burning, free-choice, free-climbing, free-convection, Free-denizen, free-dinner, free-drained, free-draining, free-drinks, Free-Electron, free-energy, free-enterprise, free-entry, free-fall, free-falling, free-fatty, free-fighting, free-fights, free-fire, free-float, free-floating, free-floatingness, free-flow, free-flowering, free-flowing, free-flying, free-for-all, free-for-all-a, free-for-life, free-form, free-format, free-forming, free-free, free-french, free-from-rhetoric, free-fruiting, free-grazing, free-grown, Free-hand, Free-hand drawing, Free-handed, free-hanging, Free-hearted, Free-heartedly, Free-heartedness, free-hold, free-holder, free-holders, free-improvising, free-jazz, free-jazzer, free-kick, free-kicks, free-labour, free-lance, free-lancer, free-lancers, free-lances, free-line, free-lined, free-liver, free-living, free-loaders, Free-love, Free-lover, free-lovers, free-market, free-marketeer, free-marketeering, free-marketeers, free-marketism, free-market-orientated, free-market-to-liberation, Free-martin, Free-masonry, free-metre, Free-milling, Free-minded, free-moving, free-of-charge, free-on-quay, free-oxygen, free-pass, free-paying, free-phone, free-place, free-play, free-port, free-produce, free-radical, free-radicals, free-ran, free-range, free-range hen, free-ranging, free-reed, free-reed instrument, free-revving, free-ride, free-rider, free-riders, free-riding, free-roaming, free-run, free-running, free-school, free-schoolers, free-scoring, free-scrolling, free-shaped, free-sheet, free-side, free-soil, Free-soilism, free-soloed, free-space, free-sparring, free-speech, free-spending, free-spirit, free-spirited, free-spoken, Free-spokenness, Free-spoken-ness, free-standing, free-stream, free-streaming, free-striding, free-style, free-stylers, free-swimming, free-swinging, free-tailed, free-taking, free-text, free-the-market, free-thinker, free-thinkers, free-thinking, free-thinking latitudinarian undogmatic undogmatical, free-threshing, free-throws, free-time, Free-tongued, free-trade, free-trader, free-traders, free-trading, free-transfer, free-turning, free-up, free-verse, free-wheel, free-wheeled, free-wheeling, free-wheels, free-will, Free-will offering, free-willed, free-with-petrol. | |
Ending with "free": additive-free, alcohol-free, barrier-free, blemish-free, buzz-free, calorie-free, carbon-free, car-free, cfc-free, chemical-free, child-free, chlorine-free, chromate-free, code-free, conflict-free, cost-free, crime-free, cruelty-free, culture-free, defect-free, disease-free, draught-free, drug-free, dust-free, fear-free, fibre-free, flicker-free, fragrance-free, free-free, fuss-free, gluten-free, grease-free, guilt-free, hassle-free, hate-free, heart-free, injury-free, interest-free, iron-free, jargon-free, keyboard-free, lime-free, lint-free, litter-free, maintenance-free, methylation-free, milk-free, nitrate-free, noise-free, nuclear-free, oil-free, oxygen-free, peat-free, pesticide-free, phosphate-free, phospho-free, phylloxera-free, pollution-free, problem-free, semi-free, snow-free, solvent-free, stone-free, stress-free, subsidy-free, sugar-free, symptom-free, table-free, tariff-free, time-free, toll-free, tory-free, traffic-free, trouble-free, value-free, virus-free, visa-free, weapons-free, weed-free, zona-free. | |
Containing "free": anti-free-radical, Cell-Free System, disease-free survival, duty-free zone, Germ-Free Life, gluten-free diet, half-free morel, non-free-draining, parenthesis-free notation, pro-free-market, salt-free diet, Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms, toll-free call, toll-free number. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
free | 72,463 | free pic | 14,458 |
free game | 58,111 | free wallpaper | 14,125 |
free porn | 53,161 | free people search | 13,693 |
free music download | 38,466 | free mp3 | 13,479 |
free clipart | 32,477 | free font | 12,687 |
free screensaver | 28,883 | free porn picture | 11,895 |
free music | 28,849 | free ecard | 11,678 |
free ringtone | 25,459 | free xxx | 10,148 |
free e card | 22,734 | free mp3 download | 10,104 |
free download | 21,938 | free sample | 9,914 |
free greeting card | 21,001 | nude picture free | 9,795 |
free sex | 20,702 | free movie | 9,597 |
free email | 19,401 | free sex movie | 9,214 |
free download game | 18,624 | free erotic story | 9,115 |
free online game | 18,326 | free ring tone | 8,750 |
free sex story | 17,420 | free software | 8,640 |
free stuff | 17,032 | free nokia ringtone | 8,445 |
free credit report | 16,969 | free porn movie | 8,405 |
free sex picture | 16,238 | free sex video | 7,818 |
free ware | 14,559 | free computer game | 7,745 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "free"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | vry (unchecked), gratis. (various references) | |
Albanian | falas (buckshee, for nothing, free of charge, gratis, gratuitous, on the house), zhbllokoj (open up, release), shpengoj (disembarrass, redeem), shkarkoj (debark, disburden, discharge, disembark, dismiss, divest, exonerate, land, offload, relegate, set free, unburden, unlade, unload), liroj (acquit, cast off, cheapen, detach, discharge, disengage, dismiss, ease, excuse, free oneself, let go, let loose, liberate, loose, loosen, pay, pay out, relax, release, slack, slacken, unbind, unstring, vacate), i sinqertë (candid, devout, earnest, explicit, Frank, free-hearted, free-spoken, genuine, honest, ingenuous, onefold, open, outgiving, outspoken, plain spoken, sincere, single minded, single-eyed, single-hearted, Square, transparent, true, true-hearted, truthful, unaffected, unreserved, whole-souled), i shpenguar (flippant, footloose), i pazënë (clear, empty, loose, open, unoccupied, vacant, void), i palidhur (abrupt, disjointed, incoherent, scrappy, skimble-skamble, unattached, unbound, unrelated, untied), i liruar (disengaged, ex service, immune, loose), i lirë (at ease, available, brummagem, cheap, clear, disengaged, disposable, empty, exempt, fetterless, footloose, frugal, inexpensive, loose, native, off, off duty, off-hour, open, quit, scotfree, twopenny, unattached, unbound, uncostly, uninhibited, unoccupied, vacant), i lejuar (accessible, allowed, licensed, permitted), i hapur (ajar, blunt, champaign, direct, exposed, forthright, Frank, heart-to-heart, honest, hospitable, low, naked, open, open-hearted, overground, overt, pervious, plain, public, straightforward, unclosed, uncovered). (various references) | |
Arabic | مطلق (absolute, categorical, complete, downright, full, infinite, liberator, outright, perfect, plenary, stark, ultimate, unbounded, unconditional, uncontrolled, unlimited, unqualified, unrestrained, unrestricted, utter), خالص مصفى (exempt from), طليق (at large, floating, freed, freed man, loose, off hand), سالك (off hand, passable, practicable), تخلص من (clear off, disembarrass, disengage, disposal, dispose of, ditch, do dispose of, doff, drown, elimination, escape, exorcise, exorcize, get out of, get rid of, jettison, liquidate, mop up, outgrow, polish up, put off, rid, scrap, sell up, shake, shake off, slough, turn, turn off, weed, weed out, work off), حر (at large, disengaged, freeman, heat, independent, liberated, loose, open, voluntary), حرر (cast off, clear, decontrol, deliver, detach, emancipate, enfranchise, extricate, grant freedom, liberate, manumit, open, phrase, redact, redeem, release, rescue, rid, set at large, set free, set loose, subedit, unchain, uncork, unleash, unlock, unstitch), غير خاضع ل, حل (acquit, become, clear up, crack, detach, disband, disengage, disentangle, disintegrate, dismissal, dispensation, dissolve, exonerate, fix, hash, loose, ravel out, releasing, resolution, resolve, settle, settlement, settling, solution, solve, solvent, unbend, unclasp, uncoil, undo, undoing, unfasten, unfastening, unhook, untangle, untie, untwine, untying, unwind), بحرية, مجانا (gratis), مطْلَق (absolute, unlimited), مطلق السراح, مطلق الحرية, مطلق غير مقيد, معافى (hale, healthy, right, sound, well), معفى من (released), متحرر من, متمتع بحقوق المواطن, متفرغ, فك (break up, chap, detach, disassemble, disconnect, disengage, disentangle, disjoint, dismantle, dissociate, disunite, jaw, jaws, jowl, loose, loosening, mandible, release, separate, set free, take apart, take to pieces, undo, unfasten, unfix, untangle, untie, untying, unwind), مجان. (various references) | |
Bavarian | frei (unchecked). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | свободно (clear, dismiss, fluently, freely, loose, loosely, naturally, stand at ease, trippingly, vacantly, without restraint), свободен (at large, available, disengaged, disposable, easeful, easy, exempt, facile, familiar, fetterless, floating, fluent, footloose, glib, go-as-you-please, immune, independent, intestate, leisure, loose, neglige, off, open, otiose, quit, spare, tripping, unbending, unbound, unbuttoned, uncommitted, unconstrained, unforced, unreserved, unrestricted, unstudied, untenanted, untrammelled, vacant, void, wide), разпуснат (dissolute, fast, gay, incontinent, lax, loose, profligate, raffish, rakish, self-abandoned, ungovernable, unregenerated, unsteady, wanton), щедър (benevolent, bountiful, charitable, flush, freehanded, generous, handsome, large handed, large-hearted, liberal, lordly, munificent, openhanded, pickwickian, princely, prodigal, profuse, stintless, ungrudging, unselfish, unsparing, unstinted), волно (freely), волен (gusty), освобождавам (discharge, disencumber, disengage, dispense, emancipate, enfranchise, exempt, extricate, give off, let loose, liberate, loose, make free, manumit, redeem, release, remit, rescue, set free, turn off, unbar, unbind, unburden, uncork, unfasten, unhand, unloose, unpen, unshackle, vacate), отприщвам (loosen, uncork, unjam, unleash, unstop), независим (autonomous, coordinate, freelance, independent, mugwump, self sufficient, sovereign, substantive, uncommitted), незает (idle, leisure, off, unappropriated, unemployed, vacant), неприкрепен (unattached), непринуден (affable, artless, childlike, easy, familiar, go-as-you-please, informal, rustic, simple, spontaneous, unconstrained, unlabored, unlaboured, unpretending, unpretentious, unstarched, unstrained, unstudied, unstuffy), безплатно (buckshee, cost-free), безплатен (cost-free, costless, gratuitous), изобилен (abounding, abundant, affluent, bountiful, copious, exuberant, fat, flush, good, hefty, liberal, luxuriant, opulent, plenteous, plentiful, plenty, prodigal, productive, profuse, prolific, rank, redundant, rich, substantial, thick, unstinted, wealthy). (various references) | |
Catalan | lliure (unchecked). (various references) | |
Chinese | 自由 (freedom, liberty). (various references) | |
Croatian | slobodnog. (various references) | |
Czech | volný (clear, comfortable, for hire, lax, liberal, loose, open, slack, spare, svelte, unattached, unoccupied, unrestrained, vacant). (various references) | |
Danish | fri (unchecked), gratis (for nothing, gratis). (various references) | |
Dutch | vrij (sufficiently, unoccupied, vacant), vlot (easy, facile, raft, smooth, unchecked), open (above-board, open, unchecked, unoccupied, vacant), onbezet (unchecked, unoccupied, vacant), onbelemmerd (unchecked), los (apart, loose, lynx, mobile, particular, sandy, separate, special, unchecked), gratis (for nothing, gratis). (various references) | |
Esperanto | senpage (for nothing, gratis), senpaga, neokupita (unoccupied, vacant), libera. (various references) | |
Estonian | vabastama. (various references) | |
Faeroese | fyri einki (for nothing, gratis), fríur (unchecked), frítt (for nothing, gratis), leysur (unchecked, vacant). (various references) | |
Farsi | منفصل (Discontinuous, Disjoin), مستقل (Absolute, Autocratic, Independent, Maverick, Realty), مطلق (Absolute, Abstract, Arbitrary, Autocratic, Downright, Implicit, Positive, Sheer, Slick, Stark, Total, Unconditional, Unrestrained, Utter), مختار, مجانی (Frank, Gratis, Honorary), مجاز (Admissible, Admissibll, Allowable, Lawful, Licensable, Permissive), ترخیص کردن , سخاوتمندانه (Handsome), ازادکردن (Assert, Deliver, Ease, Extricate, Liberate, Release, Uncage, Unfasten, Unfix, Unhitch, Unloose, Unstring, Unwrap, Unyoke), ازاد (Exempt, Gratis, Immune, Loose, Open, Patent, Unattached, Unrestrained), اختیاری (Arbitrary, Voluntary), رها, روا (Admissible, Admissibll, Lawful, Permissive), رایگان (Gratis, Gratuitous), بطورمجانی . (various references) | |
Finnish | vapaa (disengaged, exempt, gratuitous, unchecked, vacant). (various references) | |
French | libre (freed). (various references) | |
Frisian | frij (unchecked). (various references) | |
German | frei (available, bare, clear, disengaged, empty, extemporary, freed, freelance, freely, fri, independent, liberal, loose, loosely, nonattached, not occupied, open, out of copyright, private, spare, unattached, unchecked, uncommitted, unengagedly, unenslaved, unfettered, unobstructed, unoccupied, unrestricted, untrapped, vacant), gratis (buckshee, complimentary, for nothing, free of charge, gratis, gratuitous, gratuitously), umsonst (abortively, buckshee, for free, for nothing, free of charge, gratis, in vain, to no avail, to no purpose, unavailing, without success). (various references) | |
Greek | δωρεάν (free of charge, gratis, handout). (various references) | |
Hebrew | חופשי (ad. lib., at large, facile, loose, unstuck). (various references) | |
Hungarian | szabad (aerial, disengaged, exposed, fetterless, footloose, franchised, frank, free for all, freehold, independent, leisure, licit, permissible, to give sy line enough, unbound, unchecked, unimpeded, vacant), ingyenes (free of charge, gratis, gratuitous, toll-free, voluntary). (various references) | |
Icelandic | standa autt (be free, have time). (various references) | |
Indonesian | terluang (spare, uncovered, vacant), membebaskan (absolve, acquit, acquitted, divest, emancipate, enfranchise, set free), luang (spare, vacant), gratis (gratis), blong, bebas (loose). (various references) | |
Irish | saora, saor (cheap). (various references) | |
Italian | libero (available, clear, disengaged, empty, leisured, loose, open, spare, unattached, unchecked, unconstrained, unrestricted, vacant), esente (clear, exempt, freely, immune, unenslaved, untrapped), abbondante (abundant, affluent, ample, bumper, copious, flush, full, generous, large, plenteous, plentiful, plenty, profuse, rife). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 無料 (no charge), 無料 (no charge), フランス窓 (FC, flamberge, flannel, flick, franchise, franchise chain, freak, free agent, free dial, free kick, free sex, free skating, free talking, free tax, free throw, free time, free trade, free weights, freedom, freesia, free-software, freestyle, freeware, freeway, freeze, freeze-dry, freezer, French, French window, frieze, one size fits all, one whose livelihood is provided by part-time work, refrigerator, toll-free number, young people subsisting on part-time work). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | フリー , むりょう (immeasurable, no charge). (various references) | |
Korean | 자유로운 (unconventional). (various references) | |
Malay | gratis. (various references) | |
Manx | seyrey (absolution, absolve, acquit, acquittal, affranchise, affranchisement, clear, clear from guilt, deliver, discharge, disembarrass, disencumber; exploit; clearing, disengage, dismiss, dismissal, disoblige, dispensation; exploitation, ease, emancipate, emancipation, enfranchise, exempt, exemption, exonerate, exoneration, justification, justify, liberate, liberation, purge, release, relieve, riddance, vindication, vindication act of), seyr (autonomous; carpenter, aweigh, complimentary, disengaged, floating, fluid, gratis, gratuitous, immune, independent, inexpensive, unforced, wright), nastee (buckshee, gratis, gratuitous), follym (barren, barren as mind, blank, blank as cartridge, disengaged, empty, empty-handed, expressionless, flat, formal, hollow, inane, platitudinous, run down, shallow, vacant, vacuous, void, waste, waste in town). (various references) | |
Norwegian | ledig (disengaged, unoccupied, vacant), gratis (gratuitous), fri (devoid, disengaged, unchecked). (various references) | |
Papiamen | libro (unchecked), liber (pound, unchecked), gratis. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | eefray.(various references) | |
Polish | wolny (unchecked). (various references) | |
Portuguese | livre (bohemian, clear, disengaged, exempt, fetterless, floating, immune, independent, leisured, loose, masterless, off, quit, spare, spontaneous, unappropriated, unattached, unconstrained, unencumbered, unimpeded, unobstructed, unoccupied, unrestrained, untied, untrammelled), livrar (disburden, discharge, dispossess, divest, let go, rescue, rid, save, set free, to free), libertar (affranchise, deliver, discharge, disembarrass, disengage, disentangle, disenthral, ease, emancipate, enfranchise, let go, liberate, loose, manumit, redeem, release, relieve, rid, unbind, unchain, unfetter, unshackle), grátis (costless, gratis). (various references) | |
Portuguese Brazilian | livre, grátis. (various references) | |
Romanian | liber (at a loose end, at large, at leisure, autonomous, available, bast, bondless, clear, disengaged, easily, empty, fetterless, go-as-you-please, gracious, gratis, informal, leisured, loose, loosely, naked, odd, off, off duty, open, smooth, spontaneous, unchecked, uncombined, unconstrained, unengaged, unhampered, unhindered, unoccupied, unreserved, vacant, void). (various references) | |
Russian | бесплатный (free of cost). (various references) | |
Scottish | fuasgail (liberate, loose, untie), feum-sgaoilte, saor (a carpenter, carpenter, cheap, cheapen, deliver, easily, frank, gratuitous, redeem, rescue, save, set at liberty, unrestrained, wright), réir (a réir, according to, as, like as : ma réir). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | zabadava (gratis, idly, nothing: for nothing), slobodno (freely, liberally, loose, loosely, openly), slobodan (footloose, indipendent, leisure, leisured, liberal, off, open, promiscuous, sightly, spare, through, unconstrained), otarasiti se (brush off, get rid, jettison, offload, palm off, rid), osloboditi (absolve, acquit, affranchise, deliver, disembarrass, disengage, exculpate, exempt, let loose, let off, liberate, make free, release, relieve, rid, set free, unbind, unleash, unloose, unyoke, vindicate), oslobođen (disengaged, exempt, released), nevezan (unbound, untied), lišiti (abridge, cut off, deny, deprave, deprive, divest, rid, rob, strip), besplatno (buckshee, carriage free, gratis), besplatan (gratuitous), badava (gratis). (various references) | |
Spanish | libre (disengaged, exempt, idle, leisure, loose, off duty, open, quit, spare, unattached, unchecked, unoccupied, vacant, vacationist), gratuito (buckshee, costless, free of charge, gash, gratis, gratuitous, wanton), gratis (for love, for nothing, free of charge, gratis, gratuitous, toll free), franco (aboveboard, bald, blunt, candid, clear, direct, evident, exempt, forthright, foursquare, franc, Frank, freehearted, freely, gratis, hearty, honest, naked, open, open-faced, outright, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straightforward, toll free, unenslaved, untrapped). (various references) | |
Sranan | fri (unchecked), soso (empty, void). (various references) | |
Swedish | ledig (airy, casual, disengaged, easy, facile, flowing, fluent, fluid, glib, leisured, leisurely, off duty, off-hour, open, out, Pat, spare, unoccupied, vacant, void), gratis (buckshee, costless, costlessly, for nothing, free of charge, gratis, gratuitous), fri (at large, clear, fair, fancy-free, fetterless, footloose, independent, loose, open, unattached, unbound, unchecked, unrestrained, vacant), kostnadsfri (free of charge). (various references) | |
Tagalog | malayà (unchecked). (various references) | |
Tahitian | vata (to be free). (various references) | |
Thai | แจกฟรี, ทำให้ปลอดจากสิ่งกีดขวาง, อย่างให้เปล่า, ปลดปล่อย (emancipate), ซึ่งเป็นอิสระ, ขจัด (eliminate, fend off, rid). (various references) | |
Turkish | bedava (cheap as dirt, dirt cheap, for nothing, free of charge, gratis, gratuitous, no charge). (various references) | |
Turkmen | яцne (for nothing, gratis), halas, erkin (freely, unrestrictedly), erkana (easy, unrestricted), erk, boю (empty, unused), azat. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | вільно (at ease, broad, easily, easy, fluently, freely, loose, loosely, naturally), вільний (broad, devoid, disengaged, disposable, emancipated, exempt, fetterless, for hire, leisurely, licentious, loose, odd, off, open, out, quit, unbound), визволяти (liberate), незайнятий (dateless, idle, not occupied, odd, off, otiose, unemployed, unoccupied, vacant), незалежний (autonomic, detached, exempt, freelance, independent, non-affiliated, self sufficient, self-supporting), звільняти (absolve, acquit, affranchise, avoid, bag, cashier, clear, defecate, disband, disencumber, disengage, dismiss, ease, eject, emancipate, enfranchise, exempt, exonerate, let out, loose, manumit, purify, release, remit, rescue, rid, set free, supersede, unfetter, unshackle, untie, vacate), звільнений (acquitted, disengaged, emancipated, enlarged, liberated, released), безкоштовно (for nothing), безкоштовний (free of charge), добровільний (freewill, gratuitous, spontaneous, unbidden, voluntary, volunteer, willing). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | uyển chuyển (lithe, slinky), thoát được rảnh, tự do không mất tiền, nhiều thông, mềm mại; dễ dàng rộng rãi, khỏi phải, không phải lo lắng điều gì tuỳ thích sử dụng cái gì, không có người giữ chỗ lỏng, không có người ở (uninhabited, unpeopled, untenanted), không bọ ràng buộc suồng sã; xấc láo; tục thanh thoát, hào phóng; phong phú. (various references) | |
Welsh | ysgafala (careless, secure), rhyddhau (absolve, acquit, liberate, release), rhydd (liberal, loose), rhugl (fluent, glib), rhad (blessing, cheap, grace, inexpensive), haelfrydig (generous), breiniol (privileged), brac (frank, talkative). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Sumerian | 3100 BCE-2500 BCE | tan. (various references) |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | absolvas, absolve, absolvisset, absolvit, absolvo, eripio, eripio, eripui, ereptum, eripui, exemit, extricat, extrico, gratuita, gratuito, gratuitus, immunis, liber, liber libera, liberum, liber libera; liberum, libera, liberabat, liberaberis, liberabis, liberabit, liberabitur, liberabo, liberabunt, liberabuntur, liberae, liberam, liberandum, liberans, liberant, liberantem, liberantur, liberarat, liberare, liberarem, liberarent, liberaret, liberaretur, liberari, liberas, liberassem, liberasti, liberastis, liberat, liberata, liberate, liberati, liberato, liberator, liberatus, liberaverit, liberaverunt, liberavi, liberavit, liberavitque, liberem, liberemini, liberemur, liberent, liberentur, liberer, liberes, liberet, liberi, liberis, libero, liberorum, liberos, liberum, licens, licentia, privabit, privari, privata, privati, privavit, quietus, soluta, soluti, solutis, solutum, solutus, solvam, solvant, solvas, solvat, solve, solvebat, solvebatur, solvens, solventes, solventibus, solventur, solverant, solvere, solveret, solverit, solveritis, solvet, solvetur, solvi, solvisti, solvit, solvite, solvitis, solvitur, solvo, solvunt, vacuus. (various references) |
| Avestan | 200-600 | frâ. (various references) |
| Old English | 450-1100 | freon, freogan. (various references) |
| Old French | 900-1400 | franc, quite. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Matthew Chapter 27, Verse 15 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | Kata de eorthn eiwqei o hgemwn apoluein ena tw oclw desmion on hqelon |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Per diem autem sollemnem consueverat praeses dimittere populo unum vinctum quem voluissent |
| Old English | 990 | West Saxon | Hyo hæfdon heom to ge-wunen tohyre simbel-dayge. þæt se deme scolde forgyfenþam folce ænne for-worhtne mannswylcne hyo hæbben wolden. |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | But for a solempne dai the iustice was wont to delyuere to the puple oon boundun, whom thei wolden. |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | At that feest the debite was wonte to deliver vnto ye people a presoner whom they wolde desyer. |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release to the people a prisoner, whom they would. |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | Now at the feast it was the way for the ruler to let free to the people one prisoner, at their selection. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Matthew Chapter 27, Verse 15 |
| Cebuano | Ug sa panahon sa fiesta nabatasan sa gobernador ang pagbuhi alang sa katawhan sa usa ka buok nga binilanggo nga bisan kinsa nga ilang pangayoon. |
| Chinese | 巡 撫 有 一 個 常 例 、 每 逢 這 節 期 、 隨 眾 人 所 要 的 、 釋 放 一 個 囚 犯 給 他 們 。 |
| Croatian | A o Blagdanu upravitelj je obièavao svjetini pustiti jednoga uznika, koga bi veæ htjeli. |
| Danish | Men på Højtiden plejede Landshøvdingen at løslade Mængden een Fange, hvilken de vilde. |
| Dutch | En op het feest was de stadhouder gewoon den volke een gevangene los te laten, welken zij wilden. |
| Finnish | Oli tapana, että maaherra juhlan aikana päästi kansalle yhden vangin irti, kenenkä he tahtoivat. |
| French | A chaque fête, le gouverneur avait coutume de relâcher un prisonnier, celui que demandait la foule. |
| German | Auf das Fest aber hatte der Landpfleger die Gewohnheit, dem Volk einen Gefangenen loszugeben, welchen sie wollten. |
| Haitian Creole | Pou chak fèt Delivrans gouvènè a te konn lage yon prizonye. Se pèp la ki te konn chwazi kilès. |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | Pada setiap Perayaan Paskah, gubernur biasanya melepaskan seorang tahanan menurut pilihan orang banyak. |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | Maka pada masa raya biasa pemerintah itu melepaskan bagi orang banyak seorang yang terpenjara, barangsiapa yang dikehendaki oleh mereka itu. |
| Italian | Il governatore era solito, per ciascuna festa di Pasqua, rilasciare al popolo un prigioniero, a loro scelta. |
| Manx Gaelic | Nish ec y feailley shen va'n kiannoort cliaghtey feaysley daue pryssoonagh erbee dy bailloo. |
| Maori | Na ko ta te kawana tikanga i taua hakari he tuku i tetahi herehere ki te iwi, i ta ratou e pai ai. |
| Norwegian | Men på høitiden pleide landshøvdingen å gi folket en fange fri, hvem de vilde. |
| Portuguese | Ora, por ocasião da festa costumava o governador soltar um preso, escolhendo o povo aquele que quisesse. |
| Rumanian | La fiecare praznic al Pawtelor, dregqtorul avea obicei sq sloboadq norodului un kntemniyat, pe care -l voiau ei. |
| Shuar | Jísat tsawantin apachi uuntri Israer-shuar shiir Enentáimprarat tusa sepunam enketun shuar wakeramun jiiki ankant akupniuyayi. |
| Spanish | En la fiesta, el procurador acostumbraba soltar al pueblo un preso, el que quisieran. |
| Swahili | Ilikuwa kawaida wakati wa Sikukuu ya Pasaka mkuu wa mkoa kuwafungulia Wayahudi mfungwa mmoja waliyemtaka. |
| Swedish | Nu var det sed att landshövdingen vid högtiden gav folket en fånge lös, vilken de ville. |
| Uma | Butu eo bohe Paskah, Gubernur biasa mpobahaka hadua tauna to ratarungku', ba hema konoa ntodea. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "free": freebase, freebased, freebaser, freebasers, freebases, freebasing, freebee, freebees, freebie, freebies, freeboard, freeboards, freeboot, freebooted, freebooter, freebooters, freebooting, freeboots, freeborn, freed, freedman, freedmen, freedom, freedoms, freedwoman, freedwomen, freeform, freehand, freehanded, freehandedly, freehandedness, freehandednesses, freehearted, freeheartedly, freehold, freeholder, freeholders, freeholds, freeing, freelance, freelanced, freelancer, freelancers, freelances, freelancing, freeload, freeloaded, freeloader, freeloaders, freeloading, freeloads. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "free": carefree, germfree, overfree, unfree. (additional references) | |
Words containing "free": afreet, afreets, antifreeze, antifreezes, nonfreezing, postfreeze, prefreeze, prefreezes, prefreezing, refreeze, refreezes, refreezing, subfreezing, unfreed, unfreedom, unfreedoms, unfreeing, unfrees, unfreeze, unfreezes, unfreezing. (additional references) | |
| |
"Free" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Afreen, Faee, faree, Fdry, feefe, feer, fepe, fera, feray, ferde, Fere, ferel, feren, ferf, Ferge, feri, Ferie, ferme, Fermee, ferne, Fernex, fero, feroe, ferrebe, ferv, ffree, ffrey, Fhe, Fiee, firee, Firetex, fmea, foee, forea, foree, forei, Foryewe, frae, frage, frai, frale, fraue, frave, frawe, Frayne, fre, freag, fream, frean, frec, freeee, freeg, freeh, Freek, freel, freem, freen, freet, freex, Freez, freg, frege, freh, frei, Freij, frein, freiz, frek, frel, frem, Freney, freo, fres, fresee, Fresel, frete, freue, Frevel, Frewen, frex, frez, friae, frie, friej, friek, friem, Frige, frile, frio, frobe, frole, frope, frou, Frowe, frue, frui, fruke, frute, kree, kreee, rfu. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "free" (pronounced frē") |
| 2 | -r ē" | agree, Bree, Brie, Curie, debris, decree, degree, disagree, Esprit, indri, potpourri, pree, re, ree, retiree, shri, Signori, spree, Sri, three, tree. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
Direct Anagrams: fere, reef. | |
| Words within the letters "e-e-f-r" | |
-1 letter: ere, fee, fer, ree, ref. | |
-2 letters: ef, er, re. | |
| Words containing the letters "e-e-f-r" | |
+1 letter: defer, feres, fever, fewer, feyer, fleer, freed, freer, frees, frere, reefs, reefy, refed, refel, refer. | |
+2 letters: afreet, before, befret, bereft, deafer, defers, defier, defter, enserf, faerie, fakeer, feared, fearer, feater, feeder, feeler, feirie, feller, fencer, fender, feriae, ferine, ferlie, ferrel, ferret, ferule, fester, fetter, fevers, fierce, fleers, formee, freely, freers, freest, freeze, freres, frieze, frisee, fueler, hefter, heifer, hereof, kerfed, lefter, liefer, prefer, redefy, reefed, reefer, reface, refect, refeed, refeel, refell, refels, refelt, refers, reffed, refile, refine, refire, reflet, reflew, reflex, refuel, refuge, refuse, refute, relief, telfer, unfree. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Sounds 10. Quotations: Familiar 11. Quotations: Historic 12. Quotations: Fiction | 13. Quotations: Non-fiction 14. Quotations: Spoken 15. Quotations: Speeches 16. Usage Frequency | 17. Names: Frequency 18. Names: Derived from 19. Names: Company Usage 20. Expressions | 21. Expressions: Internet 22. Translations: Modern 23. Translations: Ancient 24. Bible Trace | 25. Abbreviations 26. Acronyms 27. Derivations 28. Rhymes | 29. Anagrams 30. Bibliography |
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