well-intentionedadj.

1598 R. Parsons in T. G. Law Archpriest Controv. (1896) I. 25 Yf the magistrates were knowen to be godly and well intentioned men.

1675 I. Brown Vnerring & Vnerrable Church 19 It [sc. Scripture] does manifest it self to the humble and well intentioned harts to be Gods word.

1716 J. Addison Freeholder No. 50. ⁋2 Among Us, This has been a mark of such well-intentioned persons, as would betray their country, if they were able.

1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xxxv. 29 A gracious, well-intentioned prince, made sensible at last of the great duty he owes to his people.

1839 J. W. Burgon Life & Times Sir T. Gresham (1839) I. ii. 65 The truth seems to be, that however well intentioned, he did not possess the requisite abilities for the office he filled.

1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. vii. 327 These well-intentioned, though mistaken, men.

1916 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 27 July 6/3 Some well-intentioned citizens see a potential second-storey man or porch-climber in everyone who is not within doors after the stroke of midnight.

1985 I. Murdoch Good Apprentice iii. 485 He was the closest person who was not horribly involved, a candid intelligent well-intentioned on-looker, an old friend.

2010 A. Weinberg et al. Organizational Stress Managem. i. 17 The well-intentioned whistleblowers horrified by an organization's failure to recognize and address moral issues.

1734 Hist. Reg. No. 74. 116 I take the Rumour only to be a well-intentioned Policy, to conceal the true State of our Trade, 'till the Equivalent for the Suspension of it be agreed.

1772 E. Griffith Wife in the Right Pref. sig. b But this kind and well-intentioned offer she declined.

1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) iii. 23 Polly triumphed not a little in the success of her well-intentioned scheme.

1875 W. S. Jevons Money viii. 81 Many well-intentioned efforts to reform a currency have thus been frustrated.

1920 Glasgow Herald 14 May 9 The well-intentioned proposals of certain pious Churchmen.

1978 Times 13 Mar. 19/4 With great respect, this well-intentioned suggestion seems almost wholly devoid of merit.

2009 I. Thomson Dead Yard v. 70 ‘Jamaicanisation’ meant well-intentioned displays of pan-African national costume and post-colonial culture.

1799 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 315 I see enough of the boy to be fully convinced of his goodness and well-intentionedness.

1843 F. W. Newman & J. P. Simpson tr. V. A. Huber Eng. Universities II. ii. 547 That soft-hearted, well-intentionedness and tameness which proceed from our bound and fettered condition.

1977 College Eng. 39 482 When Crito..issues his advice, Socrates commends its well-intentionedness, but takes it apart for its fallacies.

2001 W. Beard Artist as Monster ix. 201 The well-intentionedness and harmlessness or vulnerability of so many earlier Cronenberg protagonists.