liberal arts
pl.n. Academic disciplines, such as languages, literature, history, philosophy, mathematics, and science, that provide information of general cultural concern: "The term 'liberal arts' connotes a certain elevation above utilitarian concerns. Yet liberal education is intensely useful" (George F. Will). The disciplines comprising the trivium and quadrivium.
[Middle English, translation of Medieval Latin artēs liberālēs, the trivium and quadrivium : Latin artēs, pl. of Latin ars, art-, subject of study + līberālēs, pl. of līberālis, proper to free persons.] |
