Bounty
Bounty ({not transcribed}) , noun
[Old English bounte goodness, kindness, French bonté, from Latin bonitas, from bonus good, for older duonus; compare Sanskrit duvas honor, respect.]
1.
Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. [Obsolete]
Nature set in her at once beauty with bounty.
2.
Liberality in bestowing gifts or favors; gracious or liberal giving; generosity; munificence.
My bounty is as boundless as the sea.
3.
That which is given generously or liberally.
Thy morning bounties.
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.
Collocations (2)
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.