Where does “magnanimous” come from?
Magnanimous derives from Latin magnanimus, combining magnus "great" with Latin animus "spirit," itself from Proto-Italic anamos, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁mos "spirit" or "breath."
magnanimous (English): Noble and generous in spirit
Definitions
- Noble and generous in spirit
Ancestry of “magnanimous”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | magnanimus | brave, bold, noble; magnanimous; generous |
| 2 | Latin | animus | That life-giving aspect which animates: life... |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | anamos | breath; spirit, soul, life force |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁mos | breath |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁- | to breathe |
Words derived from “magnanimous”