a. (Stress variable.)
† 1. fig. Grasping, rapacious. Obs.
1607. Shaks., Timon, IV. i. 11. Large-handed Robbers your graue Masters are.
2. fig. Generous, liberal, open-handed.
a. 1628. [implied in LARGE-HANDEDNESS].
1885. Cassell’s Encycl. Dict., s.v., Large-handed charity.
3. lit. Having large hands.
1896. O. Schreiner, in Fortnightly Rev., Aug., 233. They [Boers] are generally large-limbed, large-handed men.
Hence Large-handedness (in quot. ? lavishness, or ? rapacity).
a. 1628. F. Greville, Sidney, xvi. (1652), 208. Shee watched over the nimble Spirits, selfe-seeking or large handednesse of her active Secretaries.
