ungenerous
|un-gen-er-ous|
C1
/ʌnˈdʒɛnərəs/
not willing to share
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ungenerous' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'generous', which comes from Latin 'generosus', meaning 'noble' or 'magnanimous'.
Historical Evolution
'generosus' transformed into the Old French word 'genereux', and eventually became the modern English word 'generous'. The prefix 'un-' was added to form 'ungenerous'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'generous' meant 'noble' or 'of noble birth', but over time it evolved to mean 'willing to give or share'. 'Ungenerous' thus means the opposite.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not willing to give or share things, especially money; not generous.
He was ungenerous with his praise, rarely complimenting anyone.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41