1. Root Word with No Prefix or Suffix: This is the most likely interpretation. It means a root word that is not being modified by any prefix or suffix. For example, in the word "unhappy," the root word is "happy," but it's not a free root word because it has the prefix "un-".
2. Root Word in Isolation: This interpretation could refer to a root word being used by itself, not as part of a larger word. For example, the word "love" can stand alone as a root word without any additions, making it a "free root word" in this sense.
It's important to note:
* While many root words can stand alone, others are not grammatically complete without a prefix or suffix. For example, the root word "cept" (as in "accept," "except," "intercept") is not used independently.
* The term "free root word" isn't widely used in linguistic analysis. It's more common to talk about "root words," "prefixes," and "suffixes" to understand how words are constructed.
If you provide more context about where you encountered this term, I might be able to give a more specific answer.