Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French large, Middle French larghe (French large ) (adjective) vast in extent (c1050), liberal in giving, generous (c1050), broad, wide (c1100), copious, abundant in quantity (first quarter of the 12th cent.), tolerant, indulgent, not rigorous (c1135), important (end of the 12th cent.), (of size) big (1212 or earlier), (of a class, category, etc.) extensive, comprehensive (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), (of clothes) loose-fitting (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), in Anglo-Norman also (of discourse or style) lengthy, long-winded, verbose (c1300 or earlier), (masculine noun) liberty, freedom (late 12th cent. in au large at liberty, unconfined), extent, width (c1200), generosity, liberality (beginning of the 15th cent.), generous person (although this is apparently first attested later than in English: second half of the 15th cent.), (adverb) widely, far and wide (c1260), extensively, comprehensively (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier) < classical Latin largus generous, bountiful, lavish, plentiful, copious, in post-classical Latin also (of discourse) lengthy (8th cent. in a British source), broad, wide (9th cent.), spacious, extensive (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources), free, at liberty, unconfined (12th cent. in a British source), unrestricted (from 13th cent. in British sources), of uncertain origin. The French form large shows generalization of what was originally the feminine form of Old French (rare) larc , (nominative singular) lars , which is otherwise obsolete after late 12th cent. Compare Old Occitan larc , Catalan llarg (14th cent.), Spanish largo (a1207), Portuguese largo (14th cent.), Italian largo (13th cent.), all showing a similar range of senses. With the use as adverb compare earlier largely adv.Specific senses. With the nautical uses as adjective (see sense A. 18) and adverb (see sense B. 6a) and in the phrase at large ‘into the open sea’ (see Phrases 1j), compare Middle French large (noun) open sea (1395; frequently in prendre le large to sail out on the sea), Middle French, French largue (noun) open sea (1559, earliest in prendre le largue ), (as adjective, of a wind) favourable (1678), Italian largo (adjective) (of the sea) open, far from the coast (14th cent.), (of a wind) blowing in a favourable direction (a1557), (adverb) into the open sea (a1488), (noun) open sea (a1530). With sense A. 18 compare also room adj. 3c. With the use as noun in sense C. 1a compare largesse n. With the use as noun in sense C. 3 compare post-classical Latin larga (from 14th cent. in British sources). Specific forms. With Middle English and early modern comparative and superlative forms with medial -gi- , -gy- , compare similar spelling variation shown by e.g. danger n., ledger n., stranger n.; some instances could alternatively be interpreted as showing largy adj. (see further discussion at that entry). The final -s in the Older Scots forms larges, largis, which are apparently only attested in one manuscript of Andrew of Wyntoun's Oryg. Cron. Scotl., is difficult to account for.