1. Not generous or large-minded; illiberal: a. Of actions, conduct, etc.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. To start back … from the mixture of any ungenerous and unbeseeming motion.
1699. Bentley, Phalaris, 213. I will not say, how ungenerous a design this is, to leave his Sicilian Prince in the lurch.
1748. Smollett, R. Random, xli. I recounted to him the ungenerous usage I had met with from Potion.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 514 The sense that now breaks in upon me of ungenerous … doubt.
1842. W. C. Taylor, Anc. Hist., xvii. § 9 (ed. 3), 552. An ungenerous attack on the memory of the late emperor.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, II. ix. 168. She had never harboured an ungenerous thought.
b. Of persons, disposition, etc. Also absol.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Eng. Sat., Wks. 1730, I. 25. His ungenerous Father-in-law … discreetly hang’d himself.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., II. iii. (1757), 141. Bent upon defeating the purposes of ungenerous friends or relations.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 350. The Duke too, though not a tender parent, had never been an unkind or ungenerous one.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Sonn. fr. Portuguese, ix. Givers of such gifts as mine are, must Be counted with the ungenerous.
1874. Mozley, Univ. Serm., ix. (1876), 195. An ungenerous temper may be easily fostered under the guise of generous condescension.
† 2. Inferior or poor in quality. Obs.–1
1744. Phil. Trans., XLIII. 163. A small armed Loadstone … which, being reputed but of an ungenerous Nature, took up … barely 2 Ounces.
Hence Ungenerousness.
1757. Mrs. Griffith, Lett. Henry & Frances (1767), I. 94. The poverty of my nature, and ungenerousness of my principles.
1892. R. W. Church, Cathedral & Univ. Serm., 61. The ungenerousnesses of the generous, the injustices of the just.
