free-handednessn.
/ˌfriːˈhandᵻdnᵻs/, U.S. /ˌfriˈhændədnəs/ Open-handedness, liberality.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [noun] > liberality
freedomOE
custinessOE
largesse?c1225
freeshipa1250
franchisec1325
largitya1382
largenessa1387
liberalityc1390
bountya1400
honestya1400
freenessc1400
largec1400
liberalnessc1410
munificencec1425
plentyc1425
bounteousnessc1440
magnificencec1450
bountifulness1489
bountines1512
royalty1548
magnificency?c1550
munificency?c1550
free-heartedness1583
profuseness1584
bountihead1590
lavishness1590
frankness1591
ingenuousness1611
fruitfulnessa1616
generosity1634
open-handednessa1640
large-heartedness1640
communicativeness1653
unsparingness1818
free-handedness1860
big-heartedness1872
ungrudgingness1885
two-handedness1891
outgivingness1968
1860 Eclectic Rev. Mar. 261 He feasted a thousand guests for three days on the richest dainties, gave magnificent presents to scholars, and having obtained the object of his mission, and the praise of most royal free-handedness, he returned well pleased to England.
1888 J. R. Lowell Lit. & Polit. Addr. (1914) 214 The power of the political boss is built up..by his free-handedness in distributing the property of other people.
1940 K. Roberts O. Wiswell 192 Here's another thing you'll have to consider, Mr. Wiswell: that's freehandedness with rebels.
1960 J. A. Garraty Right-hand Man iii. 44 With the coming of wealth this habit persisted, despite his freehandedness in some other respects.
2002 Daily Mail (Nexis) 17 Apr. 57 His mouth is left in a state of numbness by Lucy's freehandedness with the anaesthetic.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1860