free-born
UK[ˌfriːˈbɔːn]US[ˌfriːˈbɔːrn]
adj
Born as a free person, not into slavery or serfdom.
adj
(by extension) Having the rights and privileges of a free citizen from birth; inheriting freedom.
Morpheme Breakdown
free
born
free
born
Etymology
The compound 'free-born' is a transparent union of two ancient germanic roots, directly reflecting its literal meaning. The concept of 'free' in old english (frēo) carried the sense of being unconstrained, both physically from servitude and in spirit. 'Born', from the verb 'to bear', establishes the condition from the moment of birth. Historically, this term was a crucial legal and social distinction in feudal and slave-owning societies, denoting an individual whose status was not subject to bondage by inheritance. Its logic is straightforward: the state of being 'free' is an innate characteristic, conferred by one's birth.
Analysis
Structure: free + born
free (from old english frēo, meaning 'not in bondage, acting of one's own will', of germanic origin). born (from old english boren, past participle of beran 'to bear', of germanic origin).
Examples
In ancient Rome, a free-born citizen had rights that a freed slave did not.
The novel's hero is a free-born man who fights against the system of serfdom.
The principle that all men are free-born was a powerful ideal during the Enlightenment.