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Webster 1913 Edition


Bounty

Boun′ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Bounties
.
[OE.
bounte
goodness, kindness, F.
bonté
, fr. L.
bonitas
, fr.
bonus
good, for older
duonus
; cf. Skr.
duvas
honor, respect.]
1.
Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth.
[Obs.]
Nature set in her at once beauty with
bounty
.
Gower.
2.
Liberality in bestowing gifts or favors; gracious or liberal giving; generosity; munificence.
My
bounty
is as boundless as the sea.
Shakespeare
3.
That which is given generously or liberally.
“Thy morning bounties.”
Cowper.
4.
A premium offered or given to induce men to enlist into the public service; or to encourage any branch of industry, as husbandry or manufactures.
Bounty jumper
,
one who, during the latter part of the Civil War, enlisted in the United States service, and deserted as soon as possible after receiving the bounty.
[Collog.]
Queen Anne’s bounty
(Eng. Hist.)
,
a provision made in Queen Anne's reign for augmenting poor clerical livings.
Syn. – Munificence; generosity; beneficence.

Definition 2024


bounty

bounty

English

Noun

bounty (plural bounties)

  1. Generosity.
  2. Something given liberally.
  3. A reward for some specific act, especially one given by a government or authority.
  4. (nautical) Formerly, money paid to volunteers for serving in the British navy in time of war.

Derived terms

Translations