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at large

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Large \Large\, a. [Compar. {Larger}; superl. {Largest}.] [F.,
   fr. L. largus. Cf. {Largo}.]
   1. Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk,
      capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of
      constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; --
      opposed to {small}; as, a large horse; a large house or
      room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large
      vineyard; a large army; a large city.

   Note: For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great, and not
         large, is used as a qualifying word; as, great length,
         breadth, depth; a great distance; a great height.

   2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.

            We hare yet large day.                --Milton.

   3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.

            I might be very large upon the importance and
            advantages of education.              -- Felton.

   4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad
      sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; -- said
      of the mind and heart.

   5. Free; unembarrassed. [Obs.]

            Of burdens all he set the Paynims large. --Fairfax.

   6. Unrestrained by decorum; -- said of language. [Obs.]
      ``Some large jests he will make.'' --Shak.

   7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   8. (Naut.) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a
      favorable direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam,
      or between the beam and the quarter.

   {At large}.
      (a) Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large;
          to be left at large.
      (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse
          on a subject at large.

   {Common at large}. See under {Common}, n.

   {Electors at large}, {Representative at large}, electors, or
      a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the
      whole of a State, in distinction from those chosen to
      represent particular districts in a State. [U. S.]

   {To give, go, run, or sail large} (Naut.), to have the wind
      crossing the direction of a vessel's course in such a way
      that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains
      its highest speed. See {Large}, a., 8.

   Syn: Big; bulky; huge; capacious; comprehensive; ample;
        abundant; plentiful; populous; copious; diffusive;
        liberal.

At \At\, prep. [AS. [ae]t; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel.
   at, Sw. [*a]t, Dan. & L. ad.]
   Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence,
   nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the
   ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less
   definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the
   house. From this original import are derived all the various
   uses of at. It expresses: 

   1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on,
      something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at
      school; at hand; at sea and on land.

   2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at
      peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at
      risk; at disadvantage.

   3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with;
      as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat
      (eating); except at puns.

   4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of
      degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at
      80[deg]; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated
      at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.

   5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock;
      at twenty-one; at once; at first.

   6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or
      effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything;
      at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require,
      receive, deserve, endure at your hands.

   7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at
      it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike,
      shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.

   {At all}, {At home}, {At large}, {At last}, {At length}, {At
   once}, etc. See under {All}, {Home}, {Large}, {Last} (phrase
      and syn.), {Length}, {Once}, etc.

   {At it}, busily or actively engaged.

   {At least}. See {Least} and {However}.

   {At one}. See {At one}, in the Vocabulary.

   Syn: {In}, {At}.

   Usage: When reference to the interior of any place is made
          prominent in is used. It is used before the names of
          countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live
          in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly
          employed before names of houses, institutions,
          villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at
          Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I
          saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At
          may be used before the name of a city when it is
          regarded as a mere point of locality. ``An English
          king was crowned at Paris.'' --Macaulay. ``Jean
          Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712.''
          --J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on
          the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning
          of July 5th, in the year 1775.

Source : WordNet®

at large
     adj 1: considered altogether; "the country at large"; "I enjoyed
            the play as a whole though I thought the acting could
            have been better" [syn: {as a whole(ip)}, {at
            large(ip)}, {in general(ip)}]
     2: having escaped, especially from confinement; "a convict
        still at large"; "searching for two escaped prisoners";
        "dogs loose on the streets"; "criminals on the loose in
        the neighborhood" [syn: {at large(p)}, {at liberty(p)}, {escaped},
         {loose}, {on the loose(p)}]
     adv : in a general fashion; "he talked at large about his plans"
           [syn: {in a broad way}]
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