核心畫面

One picture can carry this word: a basket that will not close. There is more inside than anyone needs, so nobody has to be careful with it and some of it will go to other people. Point that picture at a harvest and you get plenty; point it at a person and you get someone who keeps handing things out.

bountiful 可以想成一個籃子蓋不起來的畫面:裡面的量超過任何人需要的,所以不用省著用,而且一定會分一些出去。更多收起bountiful 可以想成一個籃子蓋不起來的畫面:裡面的量超過任何人需要的,所以不用省著用,而且一定會分一些出去。把這個畫面對著收成,就是東西很多;對著一個人,就是他一直在把東西遞給別人。

From the word’s history

The evidence packet gives the word as bounty plus -ful: literally full of bounty, that is, full of generous giving. The two modern readings are the two ends of that phrase - the abundance, and the giving.

提供的來源把這個字拆成 bounty 加 -ful,字面就是「滿是 bounty」,也就是滿是豐厚的給予。今天的兩個意思剛好是這句話的兩端:一端是「多」,一端是「給」。

Wiktionary entry supplied in this batch's evidence packet (kaikki extract, source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:1167126236): "From bounty + -ful."

Two branches

東西多到滿出來

這是核心畫面最直接的樣子:籃子裡的量本身。

adjective · C1

There in such a large amount that there is far more than enough for everyone.

豐盛的、充足的

人把滿出來的東西遞出去

同一個籃子,這次看的是拿著籃子的人:因為裡面本來就有餘,他不必計較,自然會分給別人。

adjective · C1

Giving a lot to other people, freely and without waiting to be asked.

慷慨的、樂於給予的