adj.
Pronunciation: di- ' li-b ə -r ə t, - ' lib-r ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin deliberatus, past participle of deliberare to consider carefully, perhaps alteration of *delibrare, from de- + libra scale, pound
Date: 15th century
1 : characterized by or resulting from careful and thorough consideration <a deliberate decision>
2 : characterized by awareness of the consequences < deliberate falsehood>
3 : slow, unhurried, and steady as though allowing time for decision on each individual action involved <a deliberate pace>
synonyms see VOLUNTARY
– de · lib · er · ate · ly adverb
– de · lib · er · ate · ness noun