bountiful
/ˈbaʊntɪfʊl/
adjective
Origin
Old French
bonté — goodness
Overview
Meaning Now
- Large in amount; plentiful.
- Giving or provided generously; liberal in bestowing gifts.
Literal older meaning
full of goodness
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
bountiful
Earliest period
late 16th century
Journey
The word emerged during the late 16th century as a formation combining the established Middle English 'bounty' (from Old French 'bonté') with the productive Germanic suffix '-ful'. It reflects the Renaissance expansion of English vocabulary.
Evolution
- Latin
bonitas
“goodness”
- Old French
bonté
“goodness”
- Middle English
bounte
“generosity”
- Late 16th century English
bountiful
“generous”
Connections
Word parts
bounti
root
generosity/goodness
ful
suffix
characterized by
Related across languages
French
bonté
goodness
Spanish
bondad
goodness
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.