Word: libertine (noun)

Associations

"Libertine" means a person who behaves without moral principles, especially in sexual matters. This word often describes someone who enjoys freedom from traditional rules, especially about morality or religion.

• Example 1: "He was known as a libertine who lived a wild, carefree life." This means he did not follow strict moral rules.
• Example 2: "The novel features a libertine character who rejects societal norms." Here, the character acts freely without concern for accepted behavior.
• Example 3: "In history, some libertines were famous for their scandalous lifestyles." This shows the word is often used to describe people with controversial behavior. Synonym: "rake" is a similar word for a man who behaves badly, especially in love or sex. The difference is "rake" is more informal and focuses on bad behavior in love, while "libertine" can be more general about moral freedom.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• "rake" (more informal, mostly about love/sex)
• "dissolute" (more formal, means lacking moral restraint)
• "hedonist" (focuses on pleasure-seeking, not always immoral) Changing the word changes the tone: "hedonist" sounds less negative, "dissolute" sounds more serious.

Deconstruction

• Root: from Latin "libertinus," meaning "freedman" or "one who is free."
• The root "liber" means "free."
• Historically, a libertine was someone who was free from social or moral rules. This helps understand that a libertine is a person who lives freely, especially ignoring rules about morality.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a story or movie character who is a libertine? What do they do that shows this?
• How does being a libertine differ from just being free or independent?
• In your culture, how is a libertine person viewed? Is it positive, negative, or mixed? Why?