generous

What it means

1. Noble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous.First known use 16th c.

   Thank you for your generous words.

   1 more example

   Although the extension to Crewe carried the line much nearer to the town, it was decided to retain this station, and a large enclosure there was roofed over to accommodate third class passengers (the M.B.R. was more generous than most railways in its treatment of what were then known as the "lower orders").

   1957 September 28, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 618

2. Willing to give and share unsparingly; showing a readiness to give more (especially money) than is expected or needed.First known use 17th c.

   She's been extremely generous with her winnings.

   Synonyms: free, bountiful, giving

3. Large; more than ample; copious.First known use 17th c.

   his generous buttocks

   4 more examples

   Add a generous helping of mayonnaise.

   Incoherency had overtaken his speech, but he was unaware of it. Nor did he connect the smashing of a bottle with the generous curve of his transit.

   1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 117

   [H]is hard jaw worked slowly upon a generous mouthful of plug cut.

   1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 4

   The ice cream parlors served generous scoops, hand-dipped by college-bound teenagers who spoke through colorful orthodontia.

   2018, Tayari Jones, An American Marriage, Oneworld Publications, page 226

In a sentence

Thank you for your generous words.

Where it comes from

1. Latingenerōsus“of noble birth”
2. Middle Frenchgenereux
3. Englishgenerous

From Middle French genereux, and its source, Latin generōsus (“of noble birth”), from genus (“race, stock”).

First known use: 16th c.