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munificence

 - 3 dictionary results

mu⋅nif⋅i⋅cent

  [myoo-nif-uh-suhnt]
Use munificence in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To munificence
mu·nif·i·cent   (myōō-nĭf'ĭ-sənt)   
adj.  

  1. Very liberal in giving; generous.

  2. 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.
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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Word Origin & History

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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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