Origin: Latin suffix -ous
Generous has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
Noble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous.
"After winning the debate, she was generous enough to admit that her opponent had made several valid points."
In plain English: Generous means giving more than what is expected, whether it's money, time, or kindness to others.
"She was generous enough to give away most of her savings to charity."
Usage: Use generous to describe someone who gives freely of their time, money, or kindness without expecting anything in return. Avoid confusing it with "generating," which means producing something rather than giving it away.
The word generous comes from the Middle French genereux, which was borrowed from the Latin generosus. Originally meaning "of noble birth," it traveled into English to describe someone who is liberal or giving.