I.a way of thinking befitting a freeman; a noble, kind, or friendly disposition, noble spirit, kindness, affability.
I. In gen. (rare): “liberalitate liberos retinere satius est, quam metu,” Ter. Ad. 1, 1, 32: “qui ita vivunt, ut eorum probetur fides, liberalitas,” kindness, Cic. Lael. 5, 19: “(L. Cassius) homo, non liberalitate, ut alii, sed ipsa tristitia et severitate popularis,” id. Brut. 25, 97.—
II. In partic., generosity, liberality (the usual signif. of the word; “syn.: bonitas, beneficentia, benignitas): beneficentia, quam eandem vel benignitatem vel liberalitatem appellari licet,” Cic. Off. 1, 7, 20: “liberalitas ac benignitas,” id. de Or. 2, 25, 105: “magnificentia liberalitatis,” id. Rosc. Com. 8, 24: “ut ea liberalitate utamur, quae prosit amicis, noceat nemini,” id. Off. 1, 14, 43: “quid dicam de pietate in matrem, liberalitate in sorores?” id. Lael. 3, 11: “liberalitatis virtutes,” Quint. 6 prooem. § 6: illa quidam catachresis volunt esse, cum ... pro luxuria liberalitas dicitur; “a quibus equidem dissentio,” id. 8, 6, 36.—
B. Transf. (abstr. pro concr.), a gift, present (post-Aug.): “decima parte liberalitatis apud quemque eorum relicta,” Tac. H. 1, 20; Suet. Tib. 46: unaque et altera liberalitate locupletavit, id. Vit. Hor.—Plur.: “revocatae liberalitates ejus,” gifts, grants, Suet. Claud. 29: “liberalitates Neronis revocandas curavit,” id. Galb. 15.
