Freeman Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ฝ
freeman
[หfriหmษn ]
Definition
social status
A freeman is an individual who is not a slave or serf and is granted personal liberties and rights within a society. Historically, in medieval Europe, the term referred to citizens who had significant privileges and were part of the civic community. The concept of a freeman emerged during the feudal system, where serfs were tied to the land and lacked personal freedoms. In modern usage, it can also refer to someone who is free of obligations or constraints, particularly in a legal or societal sense.
Synonyms
citizen, free individual, freeborn, liberated person.
Examples of usage
- In the Middle Ages, a freeman could own land.
- The freeman's rights were often protected by local laws.
- Many fought for the status of freeman during the revolution.
- As a freeman, he enjoyed many privileges.
Translations
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Origin of 'freeman'
The word 'freeman' originates from the Old English term 'freoman,' meaning 'a man who is free.' The prefix 'free' comes from the Proto-Germanic term '*frijaz,' which signifies 'beloved' or 'dear,' often implying a state of being free rather than bound or enslaved. In the context of medieval society, freemen were individuals who had been granted certain rights, often by virtue of birth, status, or fulfilling specific civic duties. Unlike serfs, who were bound to the land and the will of their lords, freemen had legal protections and the ability to make personal choices, such as owning property and participating in civic life. Over the centuries, the term has evolved to encompass not just those with legal rights but also the broader concept of individual freedom, including personal and civil liberties in a modern democratic context.