The liberal in liberal arts, a cornerstone of the education of so many, has very little to do with political leanings; its roots can be traced to the Latin word liber, meaning “free, unrestricted.” Our language took the term from the Latin liberales artes, which described the education given to freeman and members of the upper classes, and involved training in the mind (grammar, logic, geometry, etc.). The lower classes were educated in the servile arts, which were mechanical or occupational in nature. The phrase liberal arts has been part of our language for a very long time, with use dating back to the 14th century.
14th century
: areas of study (such as history, language, and literature) that are intended to give you general knowledge rather than to develop specific skills needed for a profession
Nglish: Translation of liberal arts for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about liberal arts
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