benevolent
adj/bəˈnɛvələnt/
Etymology From Old French benevolent, borrowed from Latin benevolēns ("benevolent"). Displaced native Old English welwillende (literally well-wishing).
1
Having a disposition to do good.
- Chinese and Eastern mythologies describe dragons as benevolent.
- Benevolence? vvhich ſhall I be benevolent to; or vvhich firſt? I am puſſell'd in the choice.1641 or 1642 (first performance), Richard Brome, A Joviall Crew: Or, The Merry Beggars. Presented in a Comedie, […], London: […] J[ames] Y[oung] for E[dward] D[od] and N[athaniel] E[kins] […], published 1652, →OCLC, Act III, signature [H4], recto:
2
Possessing or manifesting love for mankind.
3
Altruistic, charitable, good, just and fair.
- This bill was not a gift from a benevolent legislature; it was a victory for the community which worked for its passage.1989 December 24, Kevin M. Cathcart, “Homophobia Never Innocent”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 24, page 5:
- Antonyms
- malevolent
- Derived terms
- benevolent absolutism, benevolent assimilation, benevolent dictator for life, benevolently, benevolentness, benevolent overlord, ecobenevolent, nonbenevolent, omnibenevolent, pseudobenevolent, semibenevolent, superbenevolent, ultrabenevolent, unbenevolent
- Related terms
- benefactor, beneficent, well-wisher