generous
Use Generous in a sentence
ər 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; < Middle French généreux < Latin generōsus of noble birth, equivalent to gener- (see gender2) + -ōsus -ous
1580–90; < Middle French généreux < Latin generōsus of noble birth, equivalent to gener- (see gender2) + -ōsus -ous
Related forms
gen·er·ous·ly, adverb
gen·er·ous·ness, noun
o·ver·gen·er·ous, adjective
o·ver·gen·er·ous·ly, adverb
qua·si-gen·er·ous, adjective
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. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To generous
00:10
Generous
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
generous (ˈdʒɛnərəs, ˈdʒɛnrəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | willing and liberal in giving away one's money, time, etc; munificent |
| 2. | free from pettiness in character and mind |
| 3. | full or plentiful: a generous portion |
| 4. | (of wine) rich in alcohol |
| 5. | (of a soil type) fertile |
| [C16: via Old French from Latin generōsus nobly born, from genus race; see | |
| 'generously | |
| —adv | |
| 'generousness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
generous
1580s, 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 present in French and perhaps in Latin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Few people are as kind and helpful and generous, and he was a major inspiration in my life and career.
Generous charitable giving is a hallmark of the family.
For them, debt relief is not fast enough, generous enough or going in the right direction.
The dining room is casual, the food simple but generous, with wine from nearby and the offer of some firewater after dinner.
Matching Quote
Related Searches
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
