free-handedadj.

1592 A. Fraunce 3rd Pt. Countesse of Pembrokes Yuychurch f. 51 Neuer sad, free-tongd, free-hart, free-handed Iacchus.

1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca Deuout Contempl. xxiii. 402 If God be so free handed, and so bountifull in giuing, knowing our necessities, why doth he driue vs to beg these his fauours?

1651 Bp. J. Hall Susurrium cum Deo lxxv. 278 He is free handed and munificent.

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor ix, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. II. 231 He is a frank man, and a free-handed man, the Master.

1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 16 The free-handed and open-hearted farmer.

1882 Cent. Mag. Apr. 935/1 Nor were they the less to be dreaded because they came as friends and were free-handed with their gold.

1936 E. von Arnim All the Dogs of my Life i.16 My father..was extremely parsimonious while he was well off, and only became freehanded when banks smashed and he grew poor.

1977 Business Week (Nexis) 8 Aug. 42 Perez' free-handed spending has dashed hopes of rising living standards.

2001 R. Weber in J. Zielonka Democratic Consolidation Eastern Europe I. viii. 213 The Constitutional Court..ruled the free-handed use of the emergency procedures provision by the executive unconstitutional.

1866 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 80 He founded the famous breed of Mantuan horses, and gave them about free-handedly to other sovereigns of his acquaintance.

1907 R. H. Nassau Fetichism in W. Afr. viii. 114 He was..strict with subordinates to the point of severity, but on occasions free-handedly generous.

2002 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 4 Mar. iii. 1 Banks have put themselves in jeopardy by lending so free-handedly to consumers.