bountiful
BOUN-ti-ful
/ˈbaʊn.tɪ.fəl/
Large in quantity; abundant; giving generously.
Combines the idea of physical abundance with positive generosity or nature's gifts.
The story behind the word. From Anglo-Norman 'bountevous' and Old French 'bonte' (goodness), stemming from Latin 'bonus' (good). The suffix '-ful' was added in Middle English to express 'full of goodness and generous abundance'.
Word relationships
- plentiful: Plentiful describes existing in large supply, while bountiful carries a warm, generous connotation.
- generous: Generous focuses on the character of the giver rather than the physical abundance produced.
- scanty: Scanty describes an inadequate or barely sufficient amount.
- sparse: Sparse refers to thin, scattered quantities.
Commonly confused with
- copious: Copious focuses strictly on sheer quantity, while bountiful conveys a sense of blessing or generous provision.
Word family
- bounty (noun): A generous gift or an abundance of something.
- bountifully (adverb): In a generous or abundant manner.
Collocations
- bountiful harvest
- bountiful feast
- bountiful supply
- bountiful gifts
Example sentences
- "Farmers celebrated a bountiful harvest after months of favorable rain and sunshine." Agricultural context
- "The host laid out a bountiful feast to welcome the international delegates." Dining context
Memory hook
BOUNTIFUL = FULL of BOUNTY and good harvest. Full of good bounty.
When not to use
Avoid when describing negative or harmful things in large quantities (e.g., do not say 'bountiful pollution').
Fun facts
- The famed British naval vessel HMS Bounty received its name from this root, representing royal benevolence.
Related words
Explore more words
munificent, abundance, exuberant, lavish, generosity, spacious
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