Generosity is the open-handed readiness to give. Great generosity, out of generosity, generosity of spirit.
It covers money, time and judgement equally, and generosity of spirit — being generous in how you interpret other people — is the phrase for the last of these. Overwhelming generosity is the standard formula in thanks. Note generous, which also means large in quantity: a generous portion, a generous helping; and that generosity originally meant nobility of birth rather than of behaviour.
1noungenerosityThe open-handed readiness to give.
“Thanks to the generosity of local people, the hospital bought a new scanner.”
2nounwillingnessWillingness to judge others kindly.
“It takes a certain generosity of spirit to read it that way.”
generosity is a readiness to give.
Latin generositas meant nobility of birth, from genus, a family or stock — the same root as genus, gene and general. Being generous meant being well-born, and the meaning shifted to the behaviour expected of that rank.
Latin
generōsitās
Middle English
generosite
English, today
generosity
From Middle English generosite, from Latin generōsitās. From Middle English generosite, from Latin generōsitās, equivalent to generous + -ity.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA