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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bounty \Boun"ty\, noun; pl. {Bounties}. [OE. bounte goodness, kindness, F. bont['e], fr. L. bonitas, fr. bonus good, for older duonus; cf. Skr. duvas honor, respect.]
1. Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. [Obs.]
Nature set in her at once beauty with bounty. --Gower.
2. Liberality in bestowing gifts or favors; gracious or liberal giving; generosity; munificence.
My bounty is as boundless as the sea. --Shak.
3. That which is given generously or liberally. ''Thy morning bounties.'' --Cowper.
4. A premium offered or given to induce men to enlist into the public service; or to encourage any branch of industry, as husbandry or manufactures.
{Bounty jumper}, one who, during the latter part of the Civil War, enlisted in the United States service, and deserted as soon as possible after receiving the bounty. [Collog.]
{Queen Anne's bounty} (Eng. Hist.), a provision made in Queen Anne's reign for augmenting poor clerical livings.
Syn: Munificence; generosity; beneficence.
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