| 释义 | -free, comb. form of free a., forming adjs. and advbs.|friː|
I. In which the first element is objective.
1. Used already in OE. (-fréo) with the names of taxes, fines, etc., and in ME. also of other obligations, in the sense ‘exempt from (the first element)’, as toll-free a., scot-free a.; steven-free adj. s.v. steven n.2 3, watch-free adj. s.v. watch n. 27.
The OE. compound folcfrig (see folk-free adj. s.v. folk n. 6 a) is etymologically distinct.
2. From the later 16th cent. used with an increasing variety of initial elements, at first with words associated with bondage or duress in a figurative sense, meaning ‘unhampered or uninfluenced by (the first element)’, as fancy-free adj. s.v. fancy n. B. 2, trouble-free adj. s.v. trouble n. 7.
3. In the 17th cent. forming many adjectival combs. having the meaning ‘proof against or resistant to (a particular agent of damage, injury, etc.)’, prob. influenced by similar use of Du. -vrij, as stick-free a. (after Du. steekvrij), water-free adj. s.v. water n. 29. Cf. proof a. 1 b.
4. From the mid-17th cent., used freely to form simple adjs. meaning ‘not containing or involving (some usu. undesirable substance, feature, etc.)’, as knot-free adj. s.v. knot n.1 19, sugar-free adj. s.v. sugar n. 4 c, lead-free adj. s.v. lead n.1 11 b. Also in many jocular nonce-formations.
Such terms are particularly common in connection with the exclusion of dietary constituents, the avoidance of manufacturing processes, etc., in the interests of health or the environment. For a discussion of the development of this meaning see A. R. Slotkin (1990), in Amer. Speech LXV. 33.
1978W. Safire in N.Y. Times 23 July 22/3 Advertising's ‘lead-free’ phrase has led to a new licentiousness in -free usages. The absence of what had formerly been desirable is now proudly advertised: not only lead-free gas, but salt-free diets and sugar-free soft drinks.
II.
5. Occasionally, particularly in Sc., the first element is used as a qualifier, indicating the cause, type, or domain of the freedom in question, as in wood-free, ransom-free, fliting-free, law-free (all Sc.), heart-free, foot-free. |
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