Etymology Inherited from Middle English deliberat(e), borrowed from Latin dēlīberātus, perfect passive participle of dēlīberō (“to consider, weigh well”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- + *līberō / lībrō (“to weigh”)), from *libera / libra (“a balance”); see librate. Doublet of deliber.
1
Done on purpose; intentional.
a deliberate attempt to cover up his crime
The massacre of up to 8,000 Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica in 1995 was an act of genocide in a deliberate attempt by the Bosnian Serb leadership to exterminate part of the Muslim community, appeal judges ruled in a crucial case at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague yesterday.2004 April 20, Ian Traynor, “Hague rules Srebrenica was act of genocide”, in The Guardian:
2
Formed with deliberation; carefully considered; not sudden or rash.
a deliberate opinion; a deliberate measure or result
settled visage and deliberate word1603-4, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure:
3
Of a person, weighing facts and arguments with a view to a choice or decision; carefully considering the probable consequences of a step; slow in determining.
The jury took eight hours to come to its deliberate verdict.
4
Not hasty or sudden; slow.
His enunciation was so deliberate.1803, William Wirt, The Letters of the British Spy:
Etymology Inherited from Middle English deliberat(e), borrowed from Latin dēlīberātus, perfect passive participle of dēlīberō (“to consider, weigh well”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- + *līberō / lībrō (“to weigh”)), from *libera / libra (“a balance”); see librate. Doublet of deliber.
1
To consider carefully; to weigh well in the mind.
It is now time for the jury to deliberate the guilt of the defendant.
2
To consider the reasons for and against anything; to reflect.