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generous

Syllabification: (gen·er·ous)
Pronunciation: /ˈjenərəs/

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Definition of generous

adjective

  • (of a person) showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected:she was generous with her money
  • showing kindness toward others:it was generous of them to ask her along
  • (of a thing) larger or more plentiful than is usual or necessary:a generous sprinkle of pepper

Derivatives

generously

adverb

generousness

noun

Origin:

late 16th century: via Old French from Latin generosus 'noble, magnanimous', from genus, gener- 'stock, race'. The original sense was 'of noble birth', hence 'characteristic of noble birth, courageous, magnanimous, not mean' (a sense already present in Latin)

generous in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of generous in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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