ˈjen(ə)rəs adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French genereus, from Latin generosus, from gener-, genus birth, race, class, kind + -osus -ous — more at kin
1. archaic : of honorable birth or origin : of good stock : highborn
2.
a. : characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit : animated by or exhibiting high ideals : magnanimous , lofty , benevolent , kindly
unusually generous in his judgments of people — Osbert Sitwell
projecting a more generous basis for the reorganization of society — V.L.Parrington
a generous national credo which actuality often fails to live up to — C.J.Rolo
capable of generous enthusiasms — Alfred Buchanan
the dreams of all the generous visionaries of the past — Carl Van Doren
b. : liberal or reflecting liberality in giving : not stingy or niggardly : openhanded
a generous hospitality
generous with the loot he has accumulated from his victims — Frederic Morton
advocating a generous system of old age pensions
of a generous disposition, he freely shared his supply — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
c.
(1) : marked by abundance or ample proportions : furnished without stint : copious , expansive , lavish
set himself up in generous style — American Guide Series: Maine
the harvests … were generous — Theodore Saloutos
wide overhangs and generous verandas — Lewis Mumford
generous portions of food
sets a generous table
a shirt with generous cuffs
(2) of a wine : full of spirit or strength : stimulating, rich
like a draught of some generous southern wine — Norman Douglas
Synonyms: see liberal