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brīvība

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: brīvībā

Latvian

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Etymology

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From brīvs (free) +‎ -ība. First attested in the late 18th, early 19th century with the meaning (legally, juridically given) “permission,” “privilege.”[1]

Noun

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brīvība f (4th declension)

  1. (political science, politics) freedom, liberty (situation in which there is no political, social, economical, juridical) subordination, dependence)
    personas brīvībapersonal, individual freedom, liberty
    demokrātiskās brīvībasdemocratic freedoms, liberties
    vārda, preses, sirdsapziņas brīvībafreedom of speech, of press, of conscience
    sapulču brīvībafreedom of reunion
    koloniālo tautu brīvības cīņascolonial peoples' struggle for freedom
  2. freedom, liberty (situation in which a person or animal is not imprisoned)
    laist gūstekni brīvībāto let a prisoner go free (lit. in freedom)
    sodīt ar brīvībās atņemšanuto punish by imprisonment (lit. by removal of freedom)
    tur vārnai deva pilnīgu brīvībuthere they gave the crow complete freedom
  3. freedom, liberty (having no constraints on one's posibilities for moving or acting)
    izvēles, rīcības brīvībafreedom of choice, of action
    brīvība domāt, spriest, lemtfreedom to think, to judge, to decide
    dot bērnam vairāk brīvībasto give the child more freedom
  4. (philosophy) freedom (the capacity to realize and express one's will, in accordance with the laws of nature)
    brīvība un nepieciešamībafreedom and necessity

Usage notes

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The word brīvība is the most frequent term used in the sense “freedom,” “liberty.” Its synonyms brīve, brīvestība, and svabadība, though attested, are clearly dated or old-fashioned.

Declension

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Synonyms

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References

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  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “brīvs”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca[1] (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN