Definition

1. Noun:

   • A dissolute person; usually a man who is morally unrestrained: A person, typically a man, who leads an immoral life and is unrestrained by conventional rules, especially in sexual matters.
   • (Historical/Religious) A freethinker: A person who rejects accepted opinions, especially in religious belief.

2. Adjective:

   • Unrestrained by convention or morality: Characterized by a disregard for moral or social conventions, particularly in sexual behavior.
   • (Historical) Freethinking: Holding unorthodox or heretical opinions, especially in religion.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The novel's protagonist is a charming libertine who carelessly breaks hearts.
  • In the 18th century, he was known as a libertine and a rake.

• Adjective:

  • He led a libertine lifestyle, filled with parties and excess.
  • The poet was criticized for his libertine views on marriage.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term often carries historical connotations, referring to aristocratic figures in 17th-18th century Europe who flouted social and religious norms.

  • The Restoration comedies are full of witty libertines.

• Philosophical Context: In a historical religious context, it could denote someone who challenged orthodox doctrine.

  • He was accused of being a libertine for questioning the church's authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Libertinism (n): The lifestyle, practices, or philosophy of a libertine; moral licentiousness or freethinking.

  • His memoirs detailed a life of unabashed libertinism.

• Libertine as a derived term is primarily used as a noun or adjective. Related concepts include rake (a fashionable, immoral man) and debauchee.

Synonyms

• Noun: Rake, debauchee, profligate, roué, dissolute, hedonist.
• Adjective: Dissolute, debauched, profligate, licentious, immoral, rakish.

Antonyms

• Noun: Prude, puritan, moralist, ascetic.
• Adjective: Moral, upright, virtuous, chaste, puritanical.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A confirmed libertine": Used to emphasize that someone is established and unrepentant in their dissolute lifestyle.

  • Despite his age, he remained a confirmed libertine.

• While "libertine" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs, it is central to phrases describing behavior, such as "libertine ways" or "libertine excesses."

Adjective

1. unrestrained by convention or morality
   • Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society
   • deplorably dissipated and degraded
   • riotous living
   • fast women

Noun

1. a dissolute person; usually a man who is morally unrestrained