largess

or lar·gesse

[ lahr-jes, lahr-jis ]

/ lɑrˈdʒɛs, ˈlɑr dʒɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR largess ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

generous bestowal of gifts.

the gift or gifts, as of money, so bestowed.

Obsolete. generosity; liberality.

Nearby words

Origin of largess

1175–1225; Middle English largesse < Old French; see large, -ice

Can be confusedlarge largess

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for largesse

With the expanded efforts expiring, there was no move in Congress to continue the largesse.
Food Stamp Cuts Add to Walmart’s Troubles|Daniel Gross|November 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
American weapons, troops, and largesse could never bestow legitimacy on a corrupt and incompetent Saigon regime.
General Giap and the Myth of American Invincibility|James A. Warren|October 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For the first time since Chávez launched his revolution, however, that largesse can no longer be taken for granted.
After the Presidential Election, a Tough Road for Hugo Chávez|Mac Margolis|October 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The King Memorial has been created through the largesse of a host of corporate donors—from Disney and Boeing to the NBA and BP.
The MLK Memorial’s Fashion Moment|Robin Givhan|August 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The New Deal was the launching pad for the Washington largesse as we know it today.
Rick Perry on the Record|Andrew Romano|August 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It is from the old French largesse; but the idea admits of number, and accordingly we find the plural, largesses, still in use.
Dissertation on the English Language|Noah Webster, Jr.
There was a brilliant full moon, showering its largesse over the hills.
The Cricket|Marjorie Cooke
She could count on the Basine woman among the select who showed their gratitude openly at the largesse of her favor.
Gargoyles|Ben Hecht
We quicken with largesse of life, and spring with vivid mystery.
Lorna Doone|R. D. Blackmore
The least decrepit of the beggars, armed with Helen's largesse of copper coin, had joined them from beneath the portico.
The History of Sir Richard Calmady|Lucas Malet

British Dictionary definitions for largesse

largesse

largess

/ (lɑːˈdʒɛs) /

noun

the generous bestowal of gifts, favours, or money

the things so bestowed

generosity of spirit or attitude

Word Origin for largesse

C13: from Old French, from large

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for largesse

largesse

also largess, "willingness to give or spend freely; munificence," c.1200, from Old French largesse "a bounty, munificence," from Vulgar Latin *largitia "abundance," from Latin largus "abundant" (see large). In medieval theology, "the virtue whose opposite is avarice, and whose excess is prodigality" ["Middle English Dictionary"]. The Old French suffix -esse is from Latin -itia, added to adjectives to form nouns of quality (cf. duress, riches).

largess

or lar·gesse

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of largess

Examples from the Web for largesse

largesse

largess

noun

Word Origin for largesse

largesse