Magnanimity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/

Definitions

1. The quality of being generous, forgiving, and noble in spirit, especially when showing restraint in the face of injury or provocation
2. The virtue of being especially forgiving, generous, and noble, particularly when one demonstrates restraint in response to wrongs or challenges
3. A disposition characterized by high-mindedness, generosity, and the ability to overlook offenses, often involving a gracious response to provocation

Etymology: Magnanimity is built from two Latin words: "magnus," meaning great, and "animus," meaning mind, spirit or courage. The compound "magnanimitas" thus named a greatness of spirit, a mind large enough to rise above petty grievances. The Latin form passed through Old French and then Middle French, which gave English a version that reached the language first as a formal, somewhat lofty term. The Latin "animus" is the same root that gives us "animal" in the sense of a living, breathing creature, and "animate," to give life to something. So the word's core image is of the soul or spirit, not of the heart or emotions. When Romans spoke of a magnanimous person, they were praising the inner stature of someone whose spirit was expansive enough to forgive.

Synonyms: generosity, nobility, kindness

Antonyms: stinginess, mean-spiritedness