benevolentadj.
/bɪˈnɛvələnt/ 1.
a. Of the general frame or habit of mind: Desirous of the good of others, of a kindly disposition, charitable, generous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective]
mildeOE
blitheOE
goodOE
well-willingOE
beina1200
goodfulc1275
blithefula1300
faira1300
benignc1320
gainc1330
sweetc1330
kinda1333
propicec1350
well-willeda1382
well-disposeda1393
well-hearteda1393
well-willinga1393
friendsomea1400
well-willya1400
charitablec1405
well-willed1417
good-heartedc1425
kindlyc1425
honeyed1435
propitious1440
affectuousc1441
willya1449
homelyc1450
benevolous1470
benigned1470
benevolent1482
favourousc1485
well-meaned1488
well-meaning1498
humanec1500
favourablec1503
affectionatea1516
well-mindedc1522
beneficial1526
propiciant1531
benignate1533
well-intendeda1535
beneficious1535
kind-hearted1535
well-given1535
affectioned1539
well-wishing1548
figgy?1549
good-meaning1549
affectedc1553
affectionated1561
well-natured1561
well-affected?1563
officious1565
well-inclined1569
good-natured1582
partial1587
graceful?1593
well-intentioned1598
beneficent1616
candid1633
kindlike1637
benefic1641
kindly-hearted1762
well-meant1765
benignanta1782
sweet-hearted1850
1482 Monk of Evesham 75 Redy and benyuolente to alle men whilys he leuyd.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Pref. 5 Our beneuolent loue and affeccion.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey I. iii. 456 Belov'd old man! benevolent as wise.
1781 J. Moore View Soc. Italy (1790) I. xxxix. 424 The mild precepts of a benevolent religion.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 406 A small body of sages had turned away with benevolent disdain from the conflict.
b. transferred of things: Kindly, fostering.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] > advantageous or favourable
likinga1387
friendlya1398
sweetc1400
propice1443
favourablec1460
towardly1520
propitious1581
aspectful1611
auspiciousa1616
benigna1631
fautive1667
benevolenta1676
bright1684
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) 306 The benevolent Heat of the Sun hath a great influence thereupon.
2. With the literal force of the Latin bene volens: Well-wishing, well-disposed to, unto (another).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] > kindly disposed to
benevolentc1503
kind1648
c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. lxi/2 A thinge..for the which wee shal [be] more ben volent vnto thy holynesse.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xx. v She [Sapience] is to man ryght benyvolent.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 65 Raphael now..Benevolent and facil thus repli'd. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [noun] > act of kindness
goodOE
loveOE
estdedea1325
bounty1330
benefice1340
benefit1377
while1382
whileness1382
officec1384
excellencec1385
goodshipa1393
kindnessc1400
benevolencec1425
benignityc1534
obligement1611
obligation1618
friendlinessa1633
benevolenta1639
beneficence1654
amability1655
benefactiona1662
knight-service1675
kindliness1883
humanity1985
a1639 J. Spottiswood Hist. Church Scotl. (1677) vii. 541 The Noblemen..made offer to give a benevolent according to their abilities.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.1482