lībĕrālĭtas, ātis, f. [1. liber], 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. § 10: 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.