Also 4 liberalte, 4–6 -ite, 5–6 lyberalite, -yte, -ytie, 5–7 liberalytie, 6 -itee, -ytye, 6–7 -itie, -itye. [a. OF. liberalité (1262 in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. līberālitātem, n. of quality f. līberāl-is LIBERAL.]
1. The quality of being liberal or free in giving; bountiful bestowal of gifts; generosity, munificence.
13[?]. St. Ambrose, 641, in, Altengl. Leg. (1878), 18. In mony þinges he was comendable, Furst in liberalite.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 159. He was of so moche liberalte þat he made þe kynges and messes [? read kynges messes; L. fercula regalia] be diȝt redy foure tymes in a day.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 390. Liberalite, Which is the vertu of Largesse.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., vii. (1885), 124. At thair departynge thai most nedis haue grete giftes and rewardes; ffor þat besitith þe kynges magnificence and liberalite.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., II. xlviii. 32. A … feest was holden by the Kynge to all that wolde come, with most lyberalytie and plentie in all that was necessary to suche a feest.
1530–1. Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 15. The Kynge … of his mere mocion benygnitee and lyberalitee … hath gyuen and granted … pardon.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 30. The Canibales beyng allured by the lyberalitie & gyftes of our men.
1566. Prayers, in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1859), 261. Good Lord, bless us and all thy gifts which we receive of thy large liberality.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. x. 41. Riches joyned with liberality, is Power; because it procureth friends, and servants.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 436. His liberality knew no bottom but an empty purse, so bountiful he was to all in want.
1741. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 263. Liberality … is apt to degenerate into extravagance.
1769. Junius Lett., ii. 13. He was formed to excel in war, by nature’s liberality to his mind as well as person.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VII. 229. The extraordinary liberality with which Antipater weakened his own army to strengthen that of Antigonus.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. 150. Thanks to the Doctor’s liberality in the matter of my weekly board [etc.].
b. An instance of this; a liberal gift or bounty; a largess. Now rare.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. xvi. 3. Them will I sende to brynge youre liberalite vnto Jerusalem.
1552. Bk. Com. Prayer, Litany, Wee receyuinge thy bountiefull lyberalytye.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., XII. x. (1622), 167. There was … giuen … a donatiue to the souldiers, and a liberalitie to the people.
1658. Whole Duty Man, xiii. § 31. This was to be paid, not as a charity, or liberality, but as a debt.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 169, ¶ 5. Enriched by uncommon liberalities of nature.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Hist. Greece, I. 374. He … found himself in a position to bestow great liberalities amongst the soldiers.
1859. J. Cumming, Ruth, ii. 15. An attempt to escape responsibilities, duties, liberalities at home.
1865. Grote, Plato, I. iv. 154. The name of Ptolemy was popular from his liberalities.
2. Breadth of mind; freedom from bias or prejudice; liberal-mindedness.
1808. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 109. Our opponents, who had not the liberality to distinguish between political and social opposition.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 491. With a liberality rare in his time, he considered questions of ecclesiastical polity as of small account when compared with the great principles of Christianity.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, V. xiii. Where look for liberality, if men of science are illiberal to their brethren?
¶ 3. Liberalism in politics; liberals collectively.
Only in allusive nonce-uses.
1841. Fraser’s Mag., XXIII. 204. Liberality proving … quite as careful of its pounds, shillings, and pence, as Toryism.
1843. Tait’s Mag., X. 637. A strange jumble of all the systems, and philosophies, bigotries, and liberalities that have each had its day and its party in France.
1874. Ruskin, Fors Clav., IV. xxxviii. 39. With all the liberality of republican Europe rejoicing in his dignities as a man and a brother.
