generous

[jen-er-uh s] /ˈdʒɛn ər əs/
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
Related forms
generously, adverb
generousness, noun
overgenerous, adjective
overgenerously, adverb
quasi-generous, adjective
quasi-generously, adverb
supergenerous, adjective
supergenerously, adverb
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.
Antonyms
1. selfish. 2. mean. 3. meager. 5. barren.
Examples from the web for generous
  • generous charitable giving is a hallmark of the family.
  • Few people are as kind and helpful and generous, and he was a major inspiration in my life and career.
  • The shirts come in black, cut for women but still generous in fit.
  • They're more generous when it comes to home life.
  • They were generous; at the first fish harvest, the owner gave half his cash crop to friends and relatives.
  • He was the most generous man I have ever known.
  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
  • Note: A generous dose of cayenne gives this stew a lively heat.
  • Their system provides generous unemployment benefits and pensions.
  • We could not do so without the generous amounts of time provided by our scientist sources and contributors.
British Dictionary definitions for generous

generous

/ˈdʒɛnərəs; ˈdʒɛnrəs/
adjective
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
Derived Forms
generously, adverb
generousness, noun
Word Origin
C16: via Old French from Latin generōsus nobly born, from genus race; see genus
Word Origin and History for generous
adj.

1580s, "of noble birth," from Middle French généreux, from Latin generosus "of noble birth," figuratively "magnanimous, generous," from genus (genitive generis) "race, stock" (see genus). Secondary senses of "unselfish" (1690s) and "plentiful" (1610s) were present in French and in Latin. Related: Generously; generousness.