I.of good or noble birth, noble, eminent (class.).
I. Lit.: “generosa ac nobilis virgo (opp. mulier ignota),” Cic. Par. 3, 1, 20: “civili generosa ab stirpe profectus,” id. Div. 1, 12, 20: “generosissima femina,” Suet. Tib. 49; cf.: “viderat a veteris generosam sanguine Teucri Iphis Anaxareten, humili de stirpe creatus,” Ov. M. 14, 698: “non quia, Maecenas, nemo generosior est te ... naso suspendis adunco Ignotos,” Hor. S. 1, 6, 2; cf. id. 24: quamquam ego naturam unam et communem omnium existimo, sed fortissimum quemque generosissimum, Sall. J. 85, 15: “nominibus generosus avitis,” Ov. Tr. 4, 4, 1: “Maeoniā generose domo,” Verg. A. 10, 141: “miles,” i. e. the Fabii, Ov. F. 2, 199: “o generosam stirpem!” Cic. Brut. 58, 213: “atria,” Ov. F. 1, 591: “quis enim generosum dixerit hunc?” Juv. 8, 30: “sapiens et nobilis et generosus,” id. 7, 191; 8, 224.—
B. Transf., of animals, plants, etc., of a good or noble species, noble, superior, excellent (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “sues,” of a noble stock, Plin. 11, 40, 95, § 233: “pecus,” Verg. G. 3, 75: “equus,” Quint. 5, 11, 4; Symm. Ep. 4, 61: “leones generosissimi,” Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 47: “testa (i. e. concha),” Hor. S. 2, 4, 31: “ostrea,” Plin. 32, 6, 21, § 61: “generosum et lene requiro (vinum),” of a good sort, generous, Hor. Ep. 1, 15, 18; cf. “vitis,” Col. 3, 2 fin.; 3, 2, 17: “pruna,” Ov. M. 13, 818; cf.: “generosissima mala,” Plin. 15, 17, 18, § 64: “quod est pomum generosissimum? nonne quod optimum?” Quint. 5, 11, 4: “sorba,” Plin. 15, 21, 23, § 85: “obsonium,” id. 15, 29, 35, § 118: “arbor,” Quint. 8, 3, 76: “flos,” Ov. F. 5, 211 al.: “generosos palmite colles,” id. M. 15, 710; cf.: “insula inexhaustis Chalybum generosa metallis,” Verg. A. 10, 174.—
II. Trop.
A. Of persons, noble-minded, magnanimous, generous: “cum de imperio certamen esset cum rege generoso ac potente (Pyrrho),” Cic. Off. 3, 22, 86; cf.: “quid homo? nonne is generosissimus qui optimus?” Quint. 5, 11, 4: “Alexander generosi spiritus imperator,” Plin. 8, 40, 61, § 149: “quis enim generosum dixerit hunc qui Indignus genere,” Juv. 8, 30.—
B. Of things, noble, dignified, honorable: “humilis et minime generosus ortus amicitiae,” Cic. Lael. 9, 29: “quaedam generosa virtus,” id. Tusc. 2, 6, 16: “Dolabella, vir simplicitatis generosissimae,” Vell. 2, 125 fin.: “quo generosior celsiorque est (animus),” Quint. 1, 2, 3; id. 2, 4, 4: “forma magnifica et generosa quodammodo,” Cic. Brut. 75, 261; “quoted by Suet. paraphrastically,” Suet. Caes. 55: quicquid est in oratione generosius, Quint. prooem. 24: tamen emerui generosos vestis honores, i. e. the dress of honor (of a mother of three children), Prop. 4, 11, 61. —Hence, * adv.: gĕnĕrōse (acc. to II.), nobly: “generosius Perire quaerens,” Hor. C. 1, 37, 21.
