1500-1600Latinmagnanimus, from magnus ‘great’ + animus ‘spirit’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
It was a magnanimous gesture on their part.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
A magnanimous gesture from the founders of the Open Software Foundation is needed now to heal any lingering breeches in the industry.
At second hand we could have enjoyed the thrill of dangerous living or shown magnanimous sympathy with the victims of oppression.
In a magnanimous fit of estate planning, Cook elects to divide the farm between his three daughters.
Instead he was extremely magnanimous towards Anna which irritated her further, and made her repulsed by everything to do with him.
It was representative of the whole day: accomplished speakers chased answers to magnanimous questions.
Mr Clinton is likely to be magnanimous in his attitude to Mr Major.
Mrs Aquino now has to decide whether she should be magnanimous in victory or punish those behind the mutiny.
This might seem excessively saintly and magnanimous.
kind and generous, especially to someone that you have defeated: a magnanimous gesture—magnanimously adverb—magnanimity /ˌmæɡnəˈnɪməti/ noun [uncountable]