freeness

== English == === Etymology === From free +‎ -ness. === Noun === freeness (usually uncountable, plural freenesses) The state or condition of being free (unconstrained, unconfined, unencumbered, unobstructed, or free-spirited). 1722, Benjamin Franklin (as Silence Dogood), "Silence Dogood, No. 8", The New-England Courant, July 9, 1722: Whoever would overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the Freeness of Speech; a Thing terrible to Publick Traytors.[sic] Openness; unreservedness; frankness; ingenuousness; candor. Liberality; generosity. Gratuitousness. ==== Synonyms ==== freedom ==== Derived terms ==== === References === Noah Webster (1828), “freeness”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language: […], volume I (A–I), New York, N.Y.: […] S. Converse; printed by Hezekiah Howe […], →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “freeness”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.