CHARITABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does charitable mean? 

• CHARITABLE (adjective)
  The adjective CHARITABLE has 3 senses:

1. relating to or characterized by charity

2. full of love and generosity

3. showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

  Familiarity information: CHARITABLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHARITABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or characterized by charity

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

a charitable foundation

Pertainym:

charity (an activity or gift that benefits the public at large)

Derivation:

charitableness (generosity as manifested by practicing charity (as for the poor or unfortunate))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Full of love and generosity

Context example:

a charitable trust

Similar:

beneficent; benevolent; eleemosynary; philanthropic (generous in assistance to the poor)

Also:

generous (willing to give and share unstintingly)

Antonym:

uncharitable (lacking love and generosity)

Derivation:

charitableness (generosity as manifested by practicing charity (as for the poor or unfortunate))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

Synonyms:

benevolent; charitable; good-hearted; kindly; large-hearted; openhearted; sympathetic

Context example:

a large-hearted mentor

Similar:

kind (having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior)

Derivation:

charitableness (generosity as manifested by practicing charity (as for the poor or unfortunate))

 Context examples 

Why, in defiance of every precept and principle of this house, does she conform to the world so openly—here in an evangelical, charitable establishment—as to wear her hair one mass of curls?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But you don't know, said I, that Emily was charitable to her, with Ham's help, long before she fled from home.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The kindly, charitable, good old governor—how could he have fallen into the clutches of such a ruffian!

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As Mr Elliot became known to her, she grew more charitable, or more indifferent, towards the others.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The delightful family party which Emma was securing for herself, poor Harriet must, in mere charitable caution, be kept at a distance from.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

His charitable kindness had been rearing a prime comfort for himself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Most students of astrology know the eleventh house (where Mars will travel next) covers your friendships, social activity, and all charitable, community, and humanitarian efforts.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

At the best, in her most charitable frame of mind, she considered the statement of his views to be a caprice, an erratic and uncalled-for prank.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The three men sprang in after him, a whip whistled in the darkness, and I had seen the last that I or any one else, save some charitable visitor to a debtors’ gaol, was ever again destined to see of Sir Lothian Hume, the once fashionable Corinthian.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

First we drove to Brixton Workhouse Infirmary, where we found that it was indeed the truth that a charitable couple had called some days before, that they had claimed an imbecile old woman as a former servant, and that they had obtained permission to take her away with them.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)