Lady Bountiful

noun

, plural Lady Bountifuls, Ladies Bountiful.

1. a wealthy lady in George Farquhar's The Beaux' Stratagem, noted for her kindness and generosity.
2. (sometimes lowercase) a woman of noteworthy generosity or charity.

lady bountiful

noun

1. an ostentatiously charitable woman

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lady Bountiful¹

after a character in George Farquhar's play The Beaux' Stratagem (1707)

Example Sentences

In Lady Bountiful there is no question of any great fundamental truth, no great human interest.

From Project Gutenberg

And when he suddenly looked up he saw her standing there laughing, expectant, radiant, a Lady Bountiful surrounded by her riches.

From Project Gutenberg

At one end of that gallery lies my Lady Bountiful and her daughter, and at the other Mrs. Sullen.

From Project Gutenberg

He had just opened a store on our street and in a Lady Bountiful spirit of helping him out, I went in to do a little trading.

From Project Gutenberg

In my character of Lady Bountiful I gave an old folks' supper in the soup kitchen, understood to be in honour of my return.

From Project Gutenberg