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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. adj. Liberal in giving or sharing. See Synonyms at liberal.
  2. adj. Characterized by nobility and forbearance in thought or behavior; magnanimous.
  3. adj. Marked by abundance; ample: a generous slice of cake.
  4. adj. Having a rich bouquet and flavor: a generous wine.
  5. adj. Obsolete Of noble lineage.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. Being of noble or honorable birth or origin; well-born.
  2. Possessed of or showing blood or breeding; spirited; courageous; thoroughbred.
  3. Noble in character or quality; honorable; magnanimous.
  4. Liberal; bountiful; munificent: as, a generous giver or gift.
  5. Strong; full of spirit: as, generous wine.
  6. Full; overflowing; abundant: as, a generous cup; a generous table.
  7. Synonyms Magnanimous, etc. (see noble); high-minded.
  8. Open-handed; free-handed.

Wiktionary

  1. adj. Of noble birth. [16th-19th c.]
  2. adj. Noble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous. [from 16th c.]
  3. adj. Willing to give and share unsparingly; showing a readiness to give more (especially money) than is expected or needed. [from 17th c.]
  4. adj. Large, more than ample, copious. [from 17th c.]

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. adj. Of honorable birth or origin; highborn.
  2. adj. Exhibiting those qualities which are popularly reregarded as belonging to high birth; noble; honorable; magnanimous; spirited; courageous.
  3. adj. Open-handed; free to give; not close or niggardly; munificent.
  4. adj. Characterized by generosity; abundant; overflowing.
  5. adj. Full of spirit or strength; stimulating; exalting.

WordNet 3.0

  1. adj. more than adequate
  2. adj. not petty in character and mind
  3. adj. willing to give and share unstintingly

Etymologies

  1. French genereux, of noble birth, magnanimous, from Latin generōsus, from genus, gener-, birth; see genə- in Indo-European roots.

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‘generous’ has been looked up 2448 times, loved by 1 person, added to 22 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 9.