Now rare. [ad. L. largītiōn-em, n. of action f. largīrī to be liberal or bountiful, f. largus (see LARGE a.). Cf. obs. F. largition.] The bestowal of gifts or largess; bountiful giving. Also an instance of this.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. (1822), 169. The Faderis … dredand Cassius, be thir largiciouns, to conques sic favoure and riches that micht be noysum to thair liberte.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 456. He had, by great largition and briberie, prevailed at Rome.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 225. Necessity is the companion of immoderate largition.
1781. S. Peters, Hist. Connecticut, 318. The largition enabled them to build a meeting and settle a minister.
1854. Cdl. Wiseman, Fabiola, II. xxviii. (1855), 307. The separate cell, which Agnes had obtained … backed by her parents’ handsome largitions.
Hence Largitional a., of the nature of largess.
1656. in Blount, Glossogr.
