From Middle English fredom, freedom, from Old English frēodōm (“freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”), from Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm (“freedom”). Equivalent to free + -dom. Cognate with North Frisian fridoem (“freedom”), Dutch vrijdom (“freedom”), Low German frīdom (“freedom”), Middle High German vrītuom (“freedom”), Norwegian fridom (“freedom”).
- The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
- The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free
- The right or privilege of unrestricted use or access
- Frankness; openness; unreservedness.