are such as depend more on the labour of the mind than on that of the hands; or, that consist more in speculation than operation; and have a greater regard to amusement and curiosity than to necessity.

The word comes from the Latin liberalis, which among the Romans signified a person who was not a slave; and whose will, of consequence, was not checked by the command of any master.

Such are grammar, rhetoric, painting, sculpture, architecture, music, &c. The liberal arts used formerly to be summed up in the following Latin verse:

Lingua, Tropus, Ratio, Numerus, Tonus, Angulus, Affinis.

And the mechanical arts, which, however, are innumerable, under this:

Rus, Nemus, Arma, Faber, Vulnera, Lana, Rater.

See ARTS.