What is "at large"

Large \Large\ (l[aum]rj), a. [Compar. Larger (l[aum]r"j[~e]r); superl. Largest.] [F., fr. L. largus. Cf. Largo.]

1. Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; -- opposed to small; as, a large horse; a large house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large vineyard; a large army; a large city.

   Note: For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great, and not large, is used as a qualifying word; as, great length, breadth, depth; a great distance; a great height.

2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.

   We have yet large day.
   --Milton.

3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.

   I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education.
   --Felton.

4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; -- said of the mind and heart.

5. Free; unembarrassed. [Obs.]

   Of burdens all he set the Paynims large.
   --Fairfax.

6. Unrestrained by decorum; -- said of language. [Obs.] ``Some large jests he will make.''
   --Shak.

7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [Obs.]
   --Chaucer.

8. (Naut.) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter. At large.

   1. Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large; to be left at large.

   2. Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse on a subject at large.

      Common at large. See under Common, n.

      Electors at large, Representative at large, electors, or a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the whole of a State, in distinction from those chosen to represent particular districts in a State. [U. S.]

      To give large, To go large, To run large, or To sail large (Naut.), to have the wind crossing the direction of a vessel's course in such a way that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains its highest speed. See Large, a., 8.

      Syn: Big; bulky; huge; capacious; comprehensive; ample; abundant; plentiful; populous; copious; diffusive; liberal.

At \At\, prep. [AS. [ae]t; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel. at, Sw. [*a]t, Dan. & L. ad.] Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at. It expresses:

1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.

2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.

3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.

4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80[deg]; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.

5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.

6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.

7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.

   At all, At home, At large, At last, At length, At once, etc. See under All, Home, Large, Last (phrase and syn.), Length, Once, etc.

   At it, busily or actively engaged.

   At least. See Least and However.

   At one. See At one, in the Vocabulary.

   Syn: In, At.

   Usage: When reference to the interior of any place is made prominent in is used. It is used before the names of countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly employed before names of houses, institutions, villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At may be used before the name of a city when it is regarded as a mere point of locality. ``An English king was crowned at Paris.''
   --Macaulay. ``Jean Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712.''
   --J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning of July 5th, in the year 1775.

prep.phr. 1 (context idiomatic English) on the loose; roaming freely; not confined. 2 (context obsolete English) in full, fully. 3 in general; as a whole. 4 (context US politics of an election English) Having an electorate across multiple districts.

1. adj. considered altogether; "the country at large"; "I enjoyed the play as a whole though I thought the acting could have been better" [syn: as a whole(ip), at large(ip), in general(ip)]

2. having escaped, especially from confinement; "a convict still at large"; "searching for two escaped prisoners"; "dogs loose on the streets"; "criminals on the loose in the neighborhood" [syn: at large(p), at liberty(p), escaped, loose, on the loose(p)]

3. adv. in a general fashion; "he talked at large about his plans" [syn: in a broad way]

At Large is the American folk music group the Kingston Trio's fourth album, released in 1959 (see 1959 in music). It was the Trio's first stereo studio album and one of the four they would simultaneously have on Billboard's Top 10 albums during that year. It spent fifteen weeks at #1. The single "M. T. A." b/w "All My Sorrows" spent eleven weeks on the singles charts and peaked at number 15. The Trio's second single that same year, "Tijuana Jail" b/w "Oh Cindy", was recorded during the At Large sessions. It peaked at number 12.

It was the first Trio studio album to be released in stereo.

At Large may refer to

• At-large, a political term relating to elections
• At Large (album), a 1959 album by The Kingston Trio
• Editor-at-large