at-large

The phrase 'at large' originated in Middle English, combining the native preposition 'at' with the borrowed adjective 'large'. Its earliest uses in the 14th century were literal, describing something done "at liberty" or "without constraint." By the 15th century, it began to be applied to officials, such as ambassadors or representatives, who operated with broad, unrestricted authority rather than a specific, limited mandate. This semantic evolution from physical freedom to a metaphorical scope of responsibility solidified the phrase's modern dual meaning, encompassing both unconfined persons and officials with general powers.

This is a fixed adjectival phrase composed of the preposition 'at' (from Old English æt, meaning "near, by, toward") and the adjective 'large' (from Old French large, meaning "broad, wide, generous"). In this compound, 'large' carries the sense of "broad scope or freedom."