Bighearted

/ˌbɪɡˈhɑɹtɪd/ adjective

Definition

Generous, kind-hearted, and showing genuine concern for others; having a compassionate nature.

Etymology

Compound of 'big' + 'hearted', where 'big' serves as an intensifier and 'heart' represents emotion and compassion. The construction reflects metaphors present across Indo-European languages about heart as the seat of emotion.

Kelly Says

Bighearted is one of the few times English uses 'big' for something positive and admirable rather than just size—it suggests that generosity and kindness somehow expand a person's internal capacity. It's a beautiful linguistic intuition, even if hearts are literally the same size.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.