Freehearted

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Possessing a benevolent disposition and an abundant willingness to offer support or resources to others without seeking personal gain
2. Reflecting an open-hearted nature marked by a readiness to express kindness and provide assistance freely and abundantly
3. Having a spirit full of kindness and a tendency to give without conditions

Etymology: "Freehearted" is a plain compound, built from "free" and "hearted" and first recorded in Middle English as "free hertid." Its sense of open-handed generosity grows from the older idea of a heart that is unburdened and willing: someone with a free heart gives without reluctance or calculation. The second half, "hearted," is the adjective formed from "heart" with the suffix "-ed," so the compound describes a person who has a certain kind of heart. Pairs like this, such as "warmhearted" and "lighthearted," follow the same pattern, which is why the word reads so transparently in modern English.

Synonyms: generous, open-hearted, benevolent

Antonyms: stingy, selfish