largesse

noun largesses · largess

1. uncountable The trait of being willing to donate money, resources, or time; generosity, liberality. There is no creature impure or vncleane, yf the conſcience of hym that vſeth it be pure and cleane. And albeit there were any impuritie in the meate, yet with himnes wherwith the larges of god is prayſed before meate and with holy wordes and prayers it ſhoulde be made holy and pure, that before was

   Similar: benevolence, munificence · Opposite: miserliness, niggardliness, stinginess, tightfistedness

2. uncountable Often preceded by do, give, or make: the generous or liberal giving of gifts or money, especially by someone of high standing on a special occasion; also, excessive or wasteful giving. In such case, certainly I would accept / Your bounty: better I than alien hearts / Should execute your planned benevolence / To man, your proposed largess to the Church.
3. uncountable Money, etc., given in this way. [F]or our coffers vvith too great a court, / And liberall larges are grovven ſomevvhat light, / VVe are inforſt to farm our royall Realme, / The reuenevv vvhereof ſhall furniſh vs, / For our affaires in hand […]
4. figuratively, uncountable Abundance of something (chiefly beneficial), regarded as having been given generously. The man to ſolitude accuſtomed long, / Perceives in every thing that lives a tongue; / […] / After long drought, vvhen rains abundant fall, / He hears the herbs and flovvers rejoicing all: / Knovvs vvhat the freſhneſs of their hue implies, / Hovv glad they catch the largeſs of the skies; […]

   Similar: bounty

5. obsolete, uncountable Chiefly in the form at one's largesse: freedom or liberty to act. This captaine then falling in companie vvith a knot of Caualieros, and diſcourſing of the largeſſe & liberty, vvhich ſouldiers enjoy in Italie, in a certaine demand, vvhich one of them made him, he gaue him the you becauſe he vvas native of that place, and the ſonne of meane parents, born in a villa
6. countable An act of donating or giving generously. So theſe loſing the true glory of virtue vvhich every one ought to have, flie to that vvhich depends upon complaiſance vvith others, courting vulgar applauſe vvith Largeſſes and feaſts.
7. also, countable, figuratively A specific gift of money, etc., given in this way, specifically (historical) at harvest time; a donation, a gratuity. Giue gloues to thy reapers, a larges to crie, / And dailie to loiterers haue a good eie.