Gen"er*ous (?), a. [F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]
1. Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [Obs.]
The generous and gravest citizens.
Shak.
2. Exhibiting those
qualities which are popularly reregarded as belonging to high birth; noble; honorable; magnanimous; spirited;
courageous. "The
generous critic."
Pope. "His generous spouse." Pope. "A generous pack [of hounds]." Addison.
3.
Open-handed; free to give;
not close or niggardly; munificent; as, a generous friend or father.
4.
Characterized by generosity; abundant; overflowing; as, a generous table. Swift.
5. Full of spirit or
strength; stimulating; exalting; as, generous wine.
Syn. --
Magnanimous; bountiful. See Liberal.
-- Gen"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Gen"er*ous*ness, n.
Hear it pronounced