Freedom, n.
Etymology: [AS. freód; freófree + -dom. See Free, and -dom.]
1. The state of being free; exemption from the power and control of another; liberty; independence. Made captive, yet deserving freedom more. Milton.
2. Privileges; franchises; immunities. Your charter and your caty's freedom. Shak.
3. Exemption from necessity, in choise and action; as, the freedom of the will.
4. Ease; facility; as, he speaks or acts with freedom.
4 more senses
5. Frankness; openness; unreservedness. I emboldened spake and freedom used. Milton.
6. Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum; license.
7. Generosity; liberality. [Obs.] Chaucer. Freedom fine, a sum paid on entry to incorporations of trades. -- Freedom of the city, the possession of the rights and privileges of a freeman of the city; formerly often, and now occasionally, conferred on one not a resident, as a mark of honorary distinction for public services.
Syn. -- See Liberty.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for freedom; he lists it under liberty.
Where he writes about it:
In general terms, it may be said that freedom is absolute, liberty relative; freedom is the absence of restraint, liberty is primarily the removal or avoidance of restraint; in its broadest sense, it is the state of being exempt from the domination of others or from restricting circumstances. — from liberty
Freedom and liberty are constantly interchanged; the slave is set at liberty, or gains his freedom; but freedom is the nobler word. — from liberty
Independence is said of states or nations, freedom and liberty of individuals; the independence of the United States did not secure liberty or freedom to its slaves. — from liberty
Liberty keeps quite strictly to the thought of being clear of restraint or compulsion; freedom takes a wider range, applying to other oppressive influences; thus, we speak of freedom from annoyance or intrusion. — from liberty
License is, in its limited sense, a permission or privilege granted by adequate authority, a bounded liberty; in the wider sense, license is an ignoring and defiance of all that should restrain, and a reckless doing of all that individual caprice or passion may choose to do--a base and dangerous counterfeit of freedom. — from liberty