As an adjective, it means done on purpose and with careful thought. As a verb, it means to think or talk seriously about something before making a decision.
From Latin *deliberare* meaning 'to weigh carefully, to consider', related to *libra* ('scales, balance'). The original image is of weighing options on a scale before acting.
Deliberate choices are the opposite of accidents—they’re metaphorically 'weighed' like items on a scale. That’s why juries 'deliberate': they’re literally balancing evidence and arguments before reaching a verdict.
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