benevolent

benevolent
adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin benevolent-, benevolens, from bene + volent-, volens, present participle of velle to wish — more at will Date: 15th century 1. a. marked by or disposed to doing good <
a benevolent donor
>
b. organized for the purpose of doing good <
a benevolent society
>
2. marked by or suggestive of goodwill <
benevolent smiles
>
benevolently adverbbenevolentness noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Synonyms:

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  • benevolent — 1 *charitable, philanthropic, eleemosynary, humanitarian, humane, altruistic Analogous words: benign, benignant, kindly, *kind: generous, *liberal, bountiful, bounteous, openhanded: obliging, complaisant, *amiable Antonyms: malevolent Contrasted… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Benevolent — Be*nev o*lent, a. [L. benevolens, entis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See {Bounty}, and {Voluntary}.] Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • benevolent — I adjective accommodating, affable, agreeable, altruistic, amiable, amicable, bearing good will, beneficient, benevolus, benign, big hearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, complacent, condolent, considerate, cooperative, cordial, decent,… …   Law dictionary

  • bénévolent — ⇒BÉNÉVOLENT, ENTE, adj. Rare, littér. vieilli. [En parlant d une pers. ou de l expression hum.] Qui se montre bienveillant, d une bonté indulgente : • 1. ... il semblait qu une similitude d âge et de cœur réunît dans le groupe des goûts anciens M …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • benevolent — (adj.) mid 15c., wishing to do good, kindly, from M.Fr. benivolent and directly from L. benevolentem (nom. benevolens) wishing (someone) well, benevolent, related to benevolentia good feeling (see BENEVOLENCE (Cf. benevolence)). Related:… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Benevolent — (v. lat.), wohlwollend, geneigt; daher Benevolenz, Geneigtheit, Wohlwollen, Gunst …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Benevolént — (lat.), wohlwollend; Benevolenz (benevolentia), das Wohlwollen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Benevolént — (lat.), wohlwollend; Benevolénz, Wohlwollen, Geneigtheit, Gunst. Benevŏle (benevolentissĭme), lector, geneigter (sehr geneigter) Leser …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • benevolent — [adj] charitable, kind all heart, altruistic, beneficent, benign, big, big hearted, bounteous, bountiful, caring, chivalrous, compassionate, considerate, generous, helpful, humane, humanitarian, kindhearted, liberal, magnanimous, philanthropic,… …   New thesaurus

  • benevolent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) well meaning and kindly. 2) (of an organization) charitable rather than profit making. DERIVATIVES benevolence noun benevolently adverb. ORIGIN Old French benivolent, from Latin bene well + velle to wish …   English terms dictionary

  • benevolent — [bə nev′ələnt] adj. [ME & OFr < L benevolens < bene, well + volens, prp. of velle, to wish: see WILL1] 1. doing or inclined to do good; kindly; charitable 2. characterized by or resulting from benevolence SYN. KIND benevolently adv …   English World dictionary

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