Il-lib'er-al, a.
a. [Lat. illiberalis; prefix il, for in, and liberalis, liberal; Fr. illibéral, Sp. illiberal, It. illiberale.] 1. Not liberal; not free, generous, or noble, or the like; close; niggardly; mean; base. “A thrifty and illiberal hand.” Mason. The reputation that groweth from small and base things is dishonorable, illiberal, vile, and of no worth. Holland.
- Indicating a lack of breeding, culture, and the like; rude; narrow; disingenuous.
- Not well authorized or elegant; as, illiberal words in Latin. [Obs. and rare.] Chesterfield.