generous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective willing to give and share unstintingly
    • a generous donation
  2. adjective not petty in character and mind
    • unusually generous in his judgment of people
  3. adjective satellite more than adequate
    • a generous portion

WordNet

Gen"er*ous adjective
Etymology
F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.
Definitions
  1. Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. Obs.
    The generous and gravest citizens. Shak.
  2. Exhibiting those qualities which are popularly reregarded as belonging to high birth; noble; honorable; magnanimous; spirited; courageous. "The generous critic." Pope. "His generous spouse." Pope. "A generous pack [of hounds]." Addison.
  3. Open-handed; free to give; not close or niggardly; munificent; as, a generous friend or father.
  4. Characterized by generosity; abundant; overflowing; as, a generous table. Swift.
  5. Full of spirit or strength; stimulating; exalting; as, generous wine. Syn. -- Magnanimous; bountiful. See Liberal. -- Gen"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Gen"er*ous*ness, n.

Webster 1913