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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

mu·nif·i·cent

Audio Help [myoo-nif-uh-suh

–adjective

1.	extremely liberal in giving; very generous.

2.	characterized by great generosity: a munificent bequest.

[Origin: 1575–85; back formation from L mūnificentia generosity, munificence, equiv. to mūnific(us) generous (muni-, comb. form of mūnus gift + -ficus -fic) + -entia -ence

]

—Related forms

mu·nif·i·cence, mu·nif·i·cent·ness, noun

mu·nif·i·cent·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. bountiful, bounteous, lavish. See generous.

—Antonyms 1. niggardly.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Munificence

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

mu·nif·i·cent Audio Help (myōō-nĭf'ĭ-sənt) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Very liberal in giving; generous.
Showing great generosity: a munificent gift. See Synonyms at liberal.

[Latin mūnificēns, mūnificent-, from mūnificus : mūnus, gift; see mei-¹ in Indo-European roots + facere, to make; see fact.]

mu·nif'i·cence n., mu·nif'i·cent·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
munificence

c.1425, from M.Fr. munificence, from L. munificentia, from comp. stem of munificus "generous, bountiful, liberal," lit. "present-making," from munus (gen. muneris) "gift or service, duty, office" (see municipal) + unstressed stem of facere "to do" (see factitious).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

munificence
noun
liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Munificence

Be*nev"o*lence\, n. [OF. benevolence, L. benevolentia. See Benevolent.]

1. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.

The wakeful benevolence of the gospel. --Chalmers.

2. An act of kindness; good done; charity given.

3. A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity.

Syn: Benevolence, Beneficence, Munificence.

Usage: Benevolence marks a disposition made up of a choice and desire for the happiness of others. Beneficence marks the working of this disposition in dispensing good on a somewhat broad scale. Munificence shows the same disposition, but acting on a still broader scale, in conferring gifts and favors. These are not necessarily confined to objects of immediate utility. One may show his munificence in presents of pictures or jewelry, but this would not be beneficence. Benevolence of heart; beneficence of life; munificence in the encouragement of letters.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Munificence

Mu*nif"i*cence\, n. [Cf. L. munire to fortify.] Means of defense; fortification. [Obs.] --Spenser.

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