Generous Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒɛn(ə)ɹəs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNoble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous.
adjWilling to give and share unsparingly; showing a readiness to give more (especially money) than is expected or needed.
Sentence Examples
You should not play on his generous nature.
You had better not play on his generous nature.
The gallery was named after its most generous benefactor.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ man donated a large amount of money to the animal shelter.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He gave a ____ donation to the local animal shelter to help them build a new facility for rescued pets.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French genereux, and its source, Latin generōsus (“of noble birth”), from genus (“race, stock”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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 26, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 618:
"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:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ man donated a large amount of money to the animal shelter.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He gave a ____ donation to the local animal shelter to help them build a new facility for rescued pets.