generous
/ˈdʒɛnərəs/
adjective
Origin
Latin
generosus — noble, of noble birth, magnanimous
Overview
Meaning Now
- Showing a readiness to give more of something, such as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected.
- Showing kindness or magnanimity toward others, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.
- Larger or more abundant than is usual or necessary.
Literal older meaning
of noble birth or descent
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
generosus
Earliest period
late 16th century
Journey
The word originally referred to 'nobility of spirit' or 'noble lineage,' reflecting the belief that those born to high status were inherently more inclined to be liberal and magnanimous. Over time, the focus shifted from hereditary social status to the character trait of willingness to share, decoupling the term from class structure.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
generosus
“of noble birth”
Derived from 'genus' (race, stock, birth).
- Old French
généreux
“noble, high-born”
- 16th-century English
generous
“of noble birth; high-minded”
Initially referred to social class and character.
- 17th-century English
generous
“liberal in giving”
Shifted to describe actions rather than innate status.
Connections
Word parts
gener-
root
birth, descent, race
-ous
suffix
full of, having the quality of
Related across languages
French
généreux
generous
Spanish
generoso
generous
Explore next
Related to generous
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.