/'lɪbətɪ; `lɪbɚtɪ/
n
1 [U] freedom from captivity, slavery, or oppressive control 自由; 自主.
2 [C, U] right or power to do as one chooses 自由权
*Liberties enjoyed by all citizens 公民皆享的自由权
* They give their children a great deal of liberty. 他们给孩子很大自由.3 [C esp pl 尤作复数] right or privilege granted by authority 当局授予的权利或特权
*liberties enjoyed by all citizens 公民皆享的权利.
4 (idm 习语) at liberty (to do sth)
(a) (of a person) free; allowed （指人）自由的, 获许可的
*You are at liberty to leave. 你可以走.
(b) free from restrictions or control 不受限制或支配
*You're at liberty to say what you like. 你尽可畅所欲言. ,Liberty `Hall place or condition of complete freedom 自由自在的地方或状态
*Wear what you like for the party it's Liberty Hall. 参加这聚会你爱穿什么穿什么--那是逍遥宫. set sb free/at liberty => free. take liberties (with sb/sth) behave in a presumptuous disrespectful way 放肆
*She told him to stop taking liberties, ie treating her with too much familiarity. 她告诉他不要太随便了（对她过分亲昵）.
* The film takes considerable liberties with the novel on which it is based, eg by shortening or changing it. 影片与原作颇有距离. take the liberty of doing sth do sth without permission 擅自或冒昧做某事物
*I took the liberty of borrowing your lawn-mower while you were away. 你不在的时候我擅自借用了你的割草机.

npluralliberties

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1【freedom】
2【legal right】
3【without permission】
4 be at liberty to do something
5 take liberties with somebody/something
6 at liberty

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[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French;Origin: liberté, from Latin libertas, from liber 'free']
【FREEDOM】[U]
the freedom and the right to do whatever you want without asking permission or being afraid of authority
　the fight for liberty and equality
individual/personal liberty
　threats to individual liberty
religious/political/economic liberty
　struggles for political liberty
【LEGAL RIGHT】 [C usually plural]
a particular legal right
　liberties such as freedom of speech
→civil liberty
【WITHOUT PERMISSION】 [singular]
something you do without asking permission, especially which may offend or upset someone else
take the liberty of doing sth
　I took the liberty of cancelling your reservation.
be at liberty to do sth
formal to have the right or permission to do something
　I am not at liberty to discuss these matters.
take liberties with sb/sth
a) to make unreasonable changes in something such as a piece of writing
　The film-makers took too many liberties with the original novel.
b)old-fashioned to treat someone without respect by being too friendly too quickly, especially in a sexual way
　He's been taking liberties with our female staff.
at liberty
formal if a prisoner or an animal is at liberty, they are no longer in prison or enclosed in a small place
= free