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large

(lärj)

adj. larg·er, larg·est

1. Of greater than average size, extent, quantity, or amount; big.

2. Of greater than average scope, breadth, or capacity; comprehensive.

3. Important; significant: had a large role in the negotiations; a large producer of paper goods.

a. Understanding and tolerant; liberal: a large and generous spirit.

b. Of great magnitude or intensity; grand: “a rigid resistance to the large emotions” (Stephen Koch).

a. Pretentious; boastful. Used of speech or manners.

b. Obsolete Gross; coarse. Used of speech or language.

6. Nautical Favorable. Used of a wind.

n. pl. large

Slang A thousand dollars: bought a speedboat for 50 large.

Idioms:

at large

1. Not in confinement or captivity; at liberty: a convict still at large.

2. As a whole; in general: the country at large.

3. Representing a nation, state, or district as a whole. Often used in combination: councilor-at-large.

4. Not assigned to a particular country. Often used in combination: ambassador-at-large.

5. At length; copiously.

live large

To indulge freely in a luxury or luxuries: For a few years, the nation lived large on its new-found oil wealth.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin largus, generous.]

largeness n.

Synonyms: large^{, big^{, great
These adjectives mean being notably above the average in size or magnitude: a large sum of money; a big red barn; a great ocean liner. Antonym: small}}

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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