munificent
adjUK, US /mjuˈnɪfɪsn̩t/
Etymology Back-formation from munificence, from Latin mūnificentia.
1
Of a person or group Very liberal in giving or bestowing.
- Munificent as he was in his own disposition in the conferring of favours, his acceptance, under the circumstances we have described, of the fortune bestowed by Robert, he found upon reasoning with himself to be perfectly consistent with the most scrupulous principles of uprightness and probity:[…]1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter XXI, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 272:
- Tellson's Bank […] was a munificent house, and extended great liberality to old customers who had fallen from their high estate.1859, Charles Dickens, chapter 30, in A Tale of Two Cities:
2 more examples
- [M]ilk producers are among the most munificent backers of political campaigns in the U.S.1974 April 8, “Politics: Milkmen Skimming Off More Cream”, in Time, retrieved 05 Sep 2013:
- An exceptionally munificent benefactor of several institutions, he has given $100 million each to MIT and Harvard.2008 March 20, Martin Filler, “Broad-Minded Museum”, in New York Review of Books, retrieved 05 Sep 2013:
2
Usually, Of a gift Very generous; lavish.
- On the hill, where kites used to be flown, stood the fine college which Mr Laurence's munificent legacy had built.1886, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 1, in Jo’s Boys, and How They Turned Out. A Sequel to “Little Men.”, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:
- It was all very well for this casual youth to make her a present of a half million acres of land in this debonair way, but she could not persuade herself to accept so munificent a gift.1914, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 25, in A Daughter of the Donss:
1 more example
- The machinists finally agreed to a munificent increase averaging 5.7% a year for three years.1969 April 11, “Business: Up, Up and Away with Wages”, in Time, retrieved 05 Sep 2013:
- Derived terms
- munificently, unmunificent
- Related terms
- municipal, municipality, munificence, remunerate, remuneration