Charitable, a.
Etymology: [F. See Charity.]
1. Full of love and good will; benevolent; kind. Be thy intents wicked or charitable, . . . . . . I will speak to thee. Shak.
2. Liberal in judging of others; disposed to look on the best side, and to avoid harsh judgment.
3. Liberal in benefactions to the poor; giving freely; generous; beneficent. What charitable men afford to beggars. Shak.
4. Of or pertaining to charity; springing from, or intended for, charity; relating to almsgiving; elemosynary; as, a charitable institution.
2 more senses
5. Dictated by kindness; favorable; lenient. By a charitable construction it may be a sermon. L. Andrews.
Syn. -- Kind; beneficent; benevolent; generous; lenient; forgiving; helpful; liberal; favorable; indulgent.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for charitable; he lists it under humane.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.