generosityn.
/ˌdʒɛnəˈrɒsᵻti/, U.S. /ˌdʒɛnəˈrɑsədi/ 1. † a. Aristocratic birth or lineage; nobility. Obsolete (archaic in later use).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun]
freedomeOE
earlshipOE
noblesse?c1225
anourc1330
freelya1350
nobleheada1382
nobletya1387
nobléc1395
nobilitya1400
generosity?a1475
apparage?1504
quality1579
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 49 (MED) Hit is to be holden that Asia is moste in quantite, Europa lesse in quantite, but egalle in the numerous generosite [L. generositate] of peple.
?a1500 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1911) 126 106 The frendes of Job, of grete generosite, Heryng of his troble..Cam vnto hym to comforth.
1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie f. 13v Sentences concerning generositie, collected out of sundrye Aucthors, and firste certayne verses, made by G. Chaucer, teaching what is gentleness, or who is worthy to bee called gentle.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 83v Nobilytie began in thy auncestours and endeth in thee, and the Generositie that they gayned by vertue, thou hast blotted with vice.
1653 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis (rev. ed.) iii. 83 The ingenious Women are marked with certaine notes in the Forehead, which is accounted a kind of generosity.
1725 tr. J. R. de Segrais Montrose in Five Novels ii. 103 As his Misfortunes and Quality deserv'd great Respect from every body of Birth and Generosity, she behav'd herself towards him with great Civility.
1799 W. Godwin St. Leon IV. iv. 111 The elevatedness and generosity of my station.
1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. ii. ii. 55 The Virginians especially lay claim to this generosity of lineage.
b. Of an animal, esp. a horse: (originally) †excellence of breed (obsolete); (chiefly) the behaviour associated with good breeding; willingness, responsiveness. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > [noun] > excellence of breed
gentlenessa1398
generosity?1578
high-grade1872
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 20 The foot men lookt well too the hors, and he of generozitee [1585 generositee] soon callmd of him self.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 139 It weakeneth their bodies, and dulleth in them all generosity.
1658 J. Spencer Καινα και Παλαια 303 Take a Dog, and marke what a generosity and courage he will put on, when he is maintained by a Man, who is to him instead of a God.
1699 J. Bouvet Hist. Cang-Hy 78 The Horses commonly used among the Tartars, no more than those of the Chineses, don't come near our European Horses of any Value, either for shape, or Generosity and Spirit.
1796 T. Morris Quashy 21 This noble generosity of the Arabian war-horse is affirmed by a modern traveller.
1835 T. Roscoe Tourist in Spain 118 His [sc. a horse's] forehead was wide, with an eye expressive of boldness, generosity, and alacrity.
1975 Times 17 Apr. 15/3 No horse whose generosity and courage is suspect can succeed in a close finish at Newcastle.
2.
a. Character or conduct characteristic of or befitting a person of noble birth, esp. nobility of spirit. Now in weakened sense: willingness to lay aside resentment or forgive injuries; magnanimity; fair-mindedness. Formerly also: spec. †courage (obsolete).There is considerable overlap between this sense and sense 2b. Early instances of 2b represent an extended use of this sense; later instances of this sense are undoubtedly influenced by 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > spirit > high-spiritedness > [noun]
fiercenessc1384
animosity?a1475
generosity1539
spleen1599
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [noun] > high-mindedness or magnanimity
high-mindedness1571
handsomeness1577
noble-mindedness1583
generousness1593
ingenuity1598
magnanimity1598
magnanimousness1606
ingenuousness1611
megalopsychy1656
generosity1783
high thinking1807
greatheartedness1813
kalokagathia1921
megalopsychia1962
1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Prouerbes sig. D.i Thou hurtest generositie, when yu prayest or intreatest the vnworthy.
1580 T. Newton View of Valyaunce f. 33 And such generositie was in the heartes of those theeues, that they rather chose to dye then to liue slaues.
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. Generosity, noblenesse of minde, courage.
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. ii. x. 53 Their generosity is remarkable, in regard they grudge not to give praise to the vertue even of their enemies, when they deserve it.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 236 His Judgment, like other mens Valour, has commonly the generosity to favour the weaker side.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. May (1965) I. 409 'Tis a degree of Generosity to tell the Truth.
1783 W. Thomson in R. Watson & W. Thomson Hist. Reign Philip III v. 309 The part which found policy required him to act, was consonant to the natural generosity of his temper.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. i. x. 89 Let me throw myself on your generosity.
1850 H. Melville White-jacket lxxii. 354 That peculiar noble-heartedness and exaggerated generosity of disposition fictitiously imputed to him.
1883 T. Martin Life Ld. Lyndhurst v. 142 Generosity is never a characteristic of political party warfare.
1919 ‘K. Mansfield’ Let. 28 Oct. (1993) III. 54 I dont think Eliot has in the least justified your generosity in his review of Pound..for there is no doubt Pound is a cheat and a charlatan.
1966 P. Larkin Let. 13 Aug. in Sel. Lett. (1992) 384 Really I suppose I ought to be grateful to that bum-hunting old relic of the Twenties, but he is/was such a cheating old swine that my normal generosity is shrivelled.
2001 Cape Times 25 May ii. 12/3 South Africans lack a generosity of spirit and would much rather actively resent the success of others than be happy that success means one less lumpen pissing on the pavement.
b. Readiness to give more of something, esp. money, than is necessary or expected; liberality, munificence. (Now the most common sense.)
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
1634 W. Wood New Englands Prospect i. x. 41 One Blacke William, an Indian Duke, out of his generosity gave this place in generall to this plantation of Saugus, so that no other can appropriate it to himselfe.
1677 W. Wycherley Plain-dealer iv. 61 They are of that vain number, who had rather shew their false generosity, in giving away profusely to worthless Flatterers, than in paying just Debts.
1712 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 337 My excellent Friend, to whose Generosity I owe my Education.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 81. ⁋9 The giver & receiver differ in their opinions of generosity.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall (1869) II. xliv. 658 The merit of generosity is on the side of the lender only.
1800 Olio 26 Mar. 38/1 Gentleman,..any man who can..exist by freebooting upon the credulity of tradesmen, or the hospitality and generosity of acquaintances.
1848 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (ed. 7) I. iii. 308 Generosity is nearly allied to extravagance.
1873 W. Black Princess of Thule xxii. 371 Don't fancy I am flinging away a fortune out of generosity.
1921 E. L. White Andivius Hedulio iv. xl. 589 He was too parsimonious to promise such generosity unless absolutely certain that the occasion for it would never confront him.
1954 Househ. Guide & Almanac (News of World) 43/1 The nature of Leo folk is generous and warm-hearted, though it can at times be a rather autocratic generosity; the largesse of the patron more than the sharing of the equal.
2004 L. Erdrich Four Souls (2005) vii. 76 Where before we gave our things away and were admired for our generosity, now we grew stingy and admired ourselves for what we grabbed and held.
3. Chiefly in plural. A generous act; an act or instance of courage, magnanimity, or liberality.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [noun] > instance or act of
bountyc1250
largessec1425
liberality1526
generosity1606
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars Annot. 23/2 The courage and generositys of the Romans died with them.
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. iv. sig. ¶¶¶¶5 You love him even after he..without regarding so many generosities which should perswade him, hath done what in him lay to deprive you of your life.
1676 R. Boyle Eng. Adventures i. 41 My unconsolable griefs, which made me do what they thought merited their Favors, made me also decline all those their Generosities offer'd me.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 77 One that carried the generosities of friendship very far.
1740 M. D. tr. Marquis d'Argens Jewish Spy II. lxvi. 203 He was assisted by a Poet, whose Generosities repair'd the Injuries done to him by the Caprices of Fortune.
1796 R. Bage Hermsprong II. vi. 39 ‘What is that to you, who value money so little?’ ‘My friend, who has told you that?’ ‘Your generosities.’
1809 Q. Rev. May 212 The public readily made every allowance that could be claimed on the score of youth—a seeming generosity often conferred on the first essays of poets, painters, and orators.
1859 E. S. Sheppard Almost Heroine III. ii. 59 The whole of her remaining capital, diminished from its primal value very much through..extravagance—‘extravagant generosities to myself,’ Horatia always called them.
1884 Overland Monthly July 105/2 We find his economies and generosities, his braveries and cowardices, really the most pleasing thing in the work.
1916 Musical Q. 2 521 When he was praised for his generosities..he would first say that they gave him pleasure and were his form of selfishness.
1956 J. R. Seeley et al. Crestwood Heights i. i. 25 Crestwood Heights emerges as a community of great generosities.
1979 N. Farah Sweet & Sour Milk ii. 48 Beggars asked for alms. The participants improvised generosities.
2002 D. J. Tichenor Dividing Lines iii. 55 Hamilton himself proposed a Washington Constitutional Society dedicated to providing assistance to immigrants who might later repay Federalist generosities on election day.
4. The quality or fact of being plentiful or large.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [noun] > condition of abounding in something
plentinessa1382
plentifulnessa1504
fullness?1537
generosity1904
1904 N.-Y. Tribune 18 Dec. (Illustrated Suppl.) 7/2 As an old member of the club, jealous of its reputation as to generosity of portions, this naturally touched my pride.
1983 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 21 Jan. b6 A British-American silhouette from the 30's with a generosity of fabric, broad shoulders and a softly defined waist.
1998 Grocer 1 Aug. 25/3 (advt.) The company repositioned its core pizza range,..in a move to..focus on the generosity of the toppings.
2003 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 22 Oct. 23 These grand terrace houses are lovely to live in. The generosity of the proportions and their solidness make them feel major and stately.
Phrases
the Order of Generosity [after German Orden de la générosité (1667; now historical.)] : a Prussian order of distinction, instituted in 1667, and superseded in 1740 by the Order for Merit (see the note at merit n. 1e). Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > knight > [noun] > order > knighthood > other orders > foreign > specific Prussian order of distinction
the Order of Generosity1707
1707 London Gaz. No. 4359/1 His Majesty hath been pleas'd to give him the Cross of the Order of Generosity.
1736 J. Campbell Mil. Hist. Eugene of Savoy 382 His Majesty conferred on the General the Order of Generosity, in Testimony of his being highly satisfied with the General's gallant Behaviour.
?1790 N. Wyndham Trav. through Europe III. 49 Frederic III. elector of Brandenburg, and afterwards king of Prussia, instituted in 1685, the Order of Generosity.
1806 R. MacDonald Brit. Martial Reg. II. 72 Eminent service was afterwards deservedly acknowledged..in a distinguishing manner by the king of Prussia, who bestowed upon him the Order of Generosity.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. xv. 274 He wore..the star of the Order of Generosity, that his Prussian Majesty had sent him for his victory.
1955 Times 20 Oct. 11/4 The Order of Merit, at least in its prehistory, has marked international associations. Its remote ancestor is the Order of Generosity founded by Frederick Elector of Brandenberg in 1667.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?a1475