Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: libertine
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
“Licentious” describes someone who behaves without moral restraints, especially in sexual conduct, or who disregards accepted rules or conventions. This vocabulary item asks you to pick the best single-word label for such a person in traditional English usage.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
“Libertine” is the established term for a person who is morally unrestrained, particularly in matters of sexual conduct, and who rejects conventional morality. “Loafer-type” refers to laziness, not moral freedom. “Criminal” implies legal transgression, which is narrower and different from moral laxity. “Freelance” relates to employment status and independence in work, not ethics.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the moral-restraint axis as central.2) Match with “libertine,” the precise traditional label.3) Eliminate domain-mismatched options (employment, laziness, legality).4) Confirm that “libertine” is widely used in literature and criticism for this idea.
Verification / Alternative check:
Classic literature and dictionaries pair “licentious” with “libertine,” reinforcing the synonymy in ethical contexts.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B) “loafer-type” — connotes idleness, not moral looseness.C) “criminal” — legal category; many licentious acts are not necessarily crimes.D) “freelance” — work arrangement; irrelevant to morality.
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing legal wrong (criminal) with moral permissiveness (licentious). The prompt explicitly mentions morality and tradition.
Final Answer:
libertine
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