English → Latin
“generosity” in Latin
ingenuitāsThe condition of being free-born or noble; noble-mindedness, ingenuousnesslīberālitāsfrankness, affability; generosity, liberalitybenignitāskindness, benevolence, friendliness, courtesy; liberality, bounty, favor; lenity, mercymūnificentiabountifulness, munificence, liberality, generosity, largessebeneficentiabeneficence, kindnesslargiorto grant, bestow, dispense, distribute, impart; to lavish or bestow; to give bribes
The English word generosity itself goes back to Latin genus, through generōsitās.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
generosity
In sentiments, spirit, etc., animus ingenuus: mens liberalis: ingenium liberale: generosus spiritus: ingenuitas: liberalitas.
Liberality in giving, liberalitas (gives as much as a liberal-minded man thinks suitable to his own rank or the receiver’s merits, without nice mercantile calculation): benignitas (gives largely from kindness of temper, that does not wish to enjoy anything to the exclusion of others): munificentia (gives rather too much than too little, from the pleasure of making people happy and causing an agreeable surprise; Döderlein): beneficentia (habit of doing good, especially by giving generously): largitas (with reference to the large amount given; hence, also, of a particular gift, largitas tui muneris, Cic.). (The words are found in this connection and order.) liberalitas ac benignitas. Too great generosity, nimia largitas; effusio (toward anybody, in aliquem; also in plur., Cic., Off., 2, 16, 56). Splendid generosity, magnificentia liberalitatis (Cic.). Generosity toward anybody, liberalitas in aliquem: ☞ largitio is the spurious generosity of the largitor, who gives from the selfish motive of purchasing honors, etc.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for generosity?
- The usual Latin words for “generosity” are ingenuitās, līberālitās, benignitās; also mūnificentia, beneficentia, largior. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.