Gen"er*ous (?), a. [F. g'en'ereux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]

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.

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