Word of the Week: Munificent

by Naomi L. | December 21, 2015 | Blog, Word of the Week | 2 comments

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

The holidays are upon us, and what better way to acknowledge the season of giving today than with a word about generosity? Today’s Word of the Week is a great one to keep in mind for those people and gestures that are extremely generous in spirit. We all likely know someone who loves to give (perhaps including ourselves), especially during the holidays, so around this time of year, you and your loved ones may expect to give and/or receive some “munificent” gifts!

A “munificent” gift or sum of money is considerably more generous than is necessary or usual. The word arose in the late 16th century and comes from the Latin adjective munificus, meaning “bountiful”. This adjective stems from the noun munus, which means “gift”.

While “munificent” primarily refers to a bountiful gift or gesture, it can also be used to describe a person with a very generous nature. It shouldn’t be confused with the adjective “magnificent”, although it’s easy to associate these words with each other as they both have highly positive connotations. If you write characters who love to give, you can surely have fun writing plenty of “munificent” acts into your stories! Happy Holidays!

What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?