The word liberal, derived from the Latin liber ("free") has several senses. Generally speaking - and with the exception of the phrase liberal arts, where it means "studies that are liberating to the mind" - the liberal is that which departs from the traditional in some way, whereas the conservative is that which holds to it. When used as a noun with such qualifiers as "political," "radical," "moderate," and "classical," "liberal" indicates a person of a certain political stance. Additionally, it is used in theology to refer to a belief system which departs from the traditional views of the religion in which it is found. Liberal can also mean a good (large) amount of something, such as "Spread a liberal amount of woodchips on the garden."
