[Winniesboy]

The definition of 'liberal' (in its political sense) in the original 1890s edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is instructive. It reads as follows:

"[of political opinions] Favourable to constitutional changes and legal and administrative reforms tending in the direction of freedom and democracy. Hence used as the designation of the party holding such opinions, in England or other states; opposed to conservative"

[buwaya]

The English definition was, as far as the Continent went, quite insufficient.