hie liberty of the press
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The right to publish what one pleases, subject only to penalty if the publication is mischievous, hurtful, or libellous to the state or individuals.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “hie liberty of the press” mean?
The right to publish what one pleases, subject only to penalty if the publication is mischievous, hurtful, or libellous to the state or individuals.
Is “hie liberty of the press” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.