Langimage
English

freely-allowed

|free-ly-al-lowed|

B2

/ˌfriːli əˈlaʊd/

permitted without restriction

Etymology
Etymology Information

'freely-allowed' is a modern English compound formed from 'freely' and 'allowed'. 'Freely' comes from 'free' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly' (Old English), and 'allow' comes into English via Old French 'alouer' (see below).

Historical Evolution

'free' comes from Old English 'frēo' meaning 'not enslaved, free'; the adverbial suffix '-ly' comes from Old English '-līc' (making adjectives/adverbs). 'Allow' entered English from Old French 'alouer' (to approve, permit), itself influenced by Latin elements (see meaning change). These parts combined in Modern English to form the compound 'freely-allowed' to describe something permitted without restriction.

Meaning Changes

Originally the components meant 'free' (not confined) and 'allow' (to give permission or approve). Over time, combined as 'freely-allowed' it conveys the current meaning 'permitted without restriction'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

permitted without restriction; allowed to be done, used, or accessed freely.

Under the new guidelines, many resources are freely-allowed for public use.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/08/14 08:51