20091214Word of the Day

junli

largess

\lar-ZHES; lar-JES; LAR-jes\ , noun;
also largesse
1.Generous giving (as of gifts or money), often accompanied by condescension.
2.Gifts, money, or other valuables so given.
3.Generosity; liberality.
名词 n.
1.慷慨的赠予
2.慷慨的赠礼;巨额赏金;大礼
3.大方,慷慨

Quotes:
Four years after her marriage she exclaimed giddily over her father-in-law's largess: "He has given Waldorf the Waldorf Astoria Hotel for a birthday present!"
~Stacy Schiff, "Otherwise Engaged", New York Times, March 19, 2000
The recipients of Johnson's largesse were understandably indifferent to what propelled him.
~Robert Dallek, Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973
A swelling chorus has arisen recently to complain that the PRI has been up to its old tricks, showering voters with largesse (ranging from washing machines to bicycles and cash).
~"Mexico's vote", Economist, June 24, 2000

Origin:
Largess is from Old French largesse, "largeness, generosity," from large, from Latin largus, "plentiful, generous."