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generous - 4 dictionary results
gen⋅er⋅ous
[jen-er-uh
s] 
–adjective
| 1. | liberal in giving or sharing; unselfish: a generous patron of the arts; a generous gift. |
| 2. | free from meanness or smallness of mind or character; magnanimous. |
| 3. | large; abundant; ample: a generous portion of pie. |
| 4. | rich or strong in flavor: a generous wine. |
| 5. | fertile; prolific: generous soil. |
Origin:
1580–90; < MF généreux < L generōsus of noble birth, equiv. to gener- (see gender 2 ) + -ōsus -ous
1580–90; < MF généreux < L generōsus of noble birth, equiv. to gener- (see gender 2 ) + -ōsus -ous
Related forms:
gen⋅er⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
gen⋅er⋅ous⋅ness, noun
Synonyms:
1. open-handed, free, unstinting. Generous, charitable, liberal, bountiful, munificent all describe persons who give to others something of value, or the acts of such persons. Generous stresses the warm and sympathetic nature of the giver: a generous gift; generous in praise of the work of others. Charitable places stress on both the goodness and kindness of the giver and the indigence or need of the receiver: charitable assistance to the needy; a charitable person, always willing to help those less fortunate than herself. Liberal, in this connection, emphasizes the size of the gift, the largesse and openhandedness of the giver: a liberal contribution to the endowment fund. Bountiful implies effusive, unstinted giving and a sense of abundance or plenty: bountiful and unrestricted support for the museum; a bountiful return for his efforts. Munificent refers to gifts or awards so large and striking as to evoke amazement or admiration: a life income, a truly munificent reward for his loyalty; a munificent contribution, larger by far than any other. 2. high-minded, noble, big. 3. plentiful, copious. 5. fruitful.
1. open-handed, free, unstinting. Generous, charitable, liberal, bountiful, munificent all describe persons who give to others something of value, or the acts of such persons. Generous stresses the warm and sympathetic nature of the giver: a generous gift; generous in praise of the work of others. Charitable places stress on both the goodness and kindness of the giver and the indigence or need of the receiver: charitable assistance to the needy; a charitable person, always willing to help those less fortunate than herself. Liberal, in this connection, emphasizes the size of the gift, the largesse and openhandedness of the giver: a liberal contribution to the endowment fund. Bountiful implies effusive, unstinted giving and a sense of abundance or plenty: bountiful and unrestricted support for the museum; a bountiful return for his efforts. Munificent refers to gifts or awards so large and striking as to evoke amazement or admiration: a life income, a truly munificent reward for his loyalty; a munificent contribution, larger by far than any other. 2. high-minded, noble, big. 3. plentiful, copious. 5. fruitful.
Antonyms:
1. selfish. 2. mean. 3. meager. 5. barren.
1. selfish. 2. mean. 3. meager. 5. barren.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To generous
| gen·er·ous (jěn'ər-əs) adj.
[French genereux, of noble birth, magnanimous, from Latin generōsus, from genus, gener-, birth; see genə- in Indo-European roots.] gen'er·ous·ly adv., gen'er·ous·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Generous
Gen"er*ous\, a. [F. g['e]n['e]reux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]1. Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [Obs.] The generous and gravest citizens. --Shak. 2. Exhibiting those qualities which are popularly reregarded as belonging to high birth; noble; honorable; magnanimous; spirited; courageous. "The generous critic." --Pope. "His generous spouse." --Pope. "A generous pack [of hounds]." --Addison. 3. Open-handed; free to give; not close or niggardly; munificent; as, a generous friend or father. 4. Characterized by generosity; abundant; overflowing; as, a generous table. --Swift. 5. Full of spirit or strength; stimulating; exalting; as, generous wine. Syn: Magnanimous; bountiful. See Liberal. -- Gen"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Gen"er*ous*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : generous
Spanish:
generosogeneroso,
German:
freigiebig,
Japanese:
気前のよい
generous
1588, from M.Fr. généreux (fem. généreuse), from L. generosus "of noble birth," from genus (gen. generis) "race, stock" (see genus). Originally "of noble birth," secondary senses of "unselfish" and "plentiful" were both present in Fr. and perhaps in Latin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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