Word: largesse (noun)

Associations

"Largesse" means generosity in giving money or gifts, often in a way that is impressive or noble.

• Example 1: The billionaire was known for his largesse, donating millions to charity. This shows someone giving a lot of money freely.
• Example 2: The king's largesse helped build many schools. Here, largesse means the king's generous gifts.
• Example 3: We appreciated her largesse during the holiday season when she gave gifts to everyone. This means kind and generous giving.

Synonym: generosity.
Difference: "Largesse" often sounds more formal or old-fashioned and can imply giving on a large scale or from a position of power, while "generosity" is more general and everyday.

Substitution

You can replace "largesse" with:

• generosity (more common and simple)
• charity (if it refers to giving to help others)
• munificence (very formal, meaning great generosity) Changing the word can make the sentence sound more casual or more formal.

Deconstruction

• Root: "large" means big or great.
• Suffix: "-esse" is a French ending that turns a word into a noun, often meaning a quality or state. "Largesse" comes from Old French "largesse," meaning generosity or liberality. It connects to the idea of giving something large or great.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you experienced someone's largesse? How did it make you feel?
• How is largesse different from just giving a small gift?
• In what situations might someone show largesse besides giving money?