larg-, largi-

(Latin: largus, ample, abundant, copious, generous; large)

at large (a prepositional phrase)
1. Not having been captured: The bandit is still at large.
2. As a group or as a whole: The senator's statements don't reflect the beliefs of society at large.
3. Not having a specific subject to discuss: The reporter is a critic at large or someone who writes about many topics.
in large part, in large measure (prepositional phrases)
Not entirely, but mostly or significantly: The success of the drama was in large part because of the talents of the director and actresses.
large (adjective), larger, largest
1. A reference to being greater than average size, extent, quantity, or amount: A large room, a large corporation, a large glass of water. 2. Pertaining to being greater than average scope, breadth, or capacity; comprehensive.
3. Relating to something that is important; significant; fairly large or important in effect or influence.
4. Comparatively big in size, number, or quantity, or bigger in size, number, or quantity than is usually expected: Which city has the largest population?
> 5. The greatest in size of things or objects which are under consideration: It was the largest bird Irene has ever seen. 6. Etymology: "bountiful", from Old French large, "broad, wide"; from Latin largus, "abundant, copious, plentiful, liberal".
largely (adverb), more largely, most largely
Not entirely but mostly: The poor state of the economy is largely resulting from insufficient agricultural production.

Henry's explanation of what caused his auto accident is largely true.

largeness (s) (noun) (no plural)
Something which is bigger than others of the same kind: The largeness of these shirts show how much bigger Jack was before he lost all that weight.
larger (adjective)
1. Characteristic of being bigger in relation to something else that is big: Sharon is planning to have a larger or more active role in physical training.
2. Greater than being big in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent.
larger than life or larger-than-life (adjective) (no comparatives)
1. Bigger than the size of an actual person or thing: Of course, the statue is larger than life.
2. Someone who has an unusually exciting, impressive, or appealing quality: Jim's father was a remarkable man who always seemed to be larger than life to his children.

This adjectival expression is hyphenated (larger-than-life) when it is placed immediately before the noun which it modifies.

large-scale (adjective), more large-scale, most large-scale
1. A reference to involving many people or things to accomplish an objective: The equipment the company wants to use isn't suitable for such a large-scale construction of houses.
2. Descriptive of covering or involving a large area: The company used a large-scale group of employees from various parts of the country to complete the production of the special cars.
large-scale structure (s) (noun), large-scale structures (pl)
Involving a very big area and its contents or characteristics: Sky surveys and mappings of the various wavelength bands of electromagnetic radiation have yielded much information on the content and character of the universe's large-scale structure.
largess (s) (noun) (no plural)
1. The gifts, money, or favors given as a result of someone's generosity: The children had no idea of the largess of presents which was awaiting them under the Christmas tree that year!
2. Etymology: "gifts freely given", from early 13th century Old French largesse, "a bounty, munificence"; from Vulgar Latin largitia, "abundance"; from Latin largus, "abundant".
A liberal present.
© ALL rights are reserved.

A significant gift.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

largifluous (adjective), more largifluous, most largifluous
A reference to flowing copiously or abundantly: The largifluous river was making some of the streets impassible in the large city.
largiloquent (adjective), more largiloquent, most largiloquent
Full of words; grandiloquent or characterized by lofty or pompous eloquence or unnecessarily complicated language in order to impress people, and often sounding silly because of this: The President often used largiloquent language to sound more impressive when he expresses his various political positions.
largo (s) (noun), largos (pl)
A musical composition or passage that is to be performed in a very slow and dignified manner: The general meaning of largo is "very slow, to draw out, and to extend"; comes from Italian via Latin largus, "abundant".
loom large (verb), looms large; loomed large, looming large
To have great importance or influence: The rising tuition costs of a university education for young people loom large in the minds of many students and parents.