The adjective “magnanimous” can be broken into its Latin parts: “magnus” (“great”) and “animus” (“soul”). Therefore, describing someone as magnanimous is saying they have a great soul. By definition, a magnanimous person is especially generous toward those less privileged or toward a rival. Synonyms for “magnanimous” include “benevolent” and “beneficient” (both using the Latin prefix “bene,” meaning “well”), “philanthropic,” “chivalrous,” “altruistic,” “munificent,” and “bountiful.”