freely; generously; without holding back
Describes giving, spending, or using something without hesitation or stinginess. Often used with verbs like 与える, 使う, 注ぐ.
He spends money freely.
She poured out her affection generously.
気前よく also means 'generously', but emphasizes a cheerful, open-handed disposition, while 惜しげなく focuses on the absence of reluctance or stinginess.
Most common kanji spelling using 惜しげ (regret/appearance) + なく (adverbial form).
Variant using 気 instead of げ; both convey the same meaning.
Rare spelling with 無く; less common in modern usage.
Rare spelling combining 気 and 無く; very uncommon.
Derived from 惜し (stem of 惜しむ, 'to begrudge') + げ (suffix indicating appearance or feeling) + なく (adverbial form of ない). Literally 'without a begrudging appearance'.