Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
benevolent - 3 dictionary results

be⋅nev⋅o⋅lent

  [buh-nev-uh-luhnt]
Use benevolent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings: a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile.
2. desiring to help others; charitable: gifts from several benevolent alumni.
3. intended for benefits rather than profit: a benevolent institution.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L benevolent- (s. of benevolēns) kindhearted (bene- bene- + vol- wish (akin to will 1 ) + -ent- -ent )

Related forms:
be⋅nev⋅o⋅lent⋅ly, adverb
be⋅nev⋅o⋅lent⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. good, kind, humane, generous, liberal, benign, philanthropic, altruistic.

Antonyms:
cruel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To benevolent
be·nev·o·lent   (bə-něv'ə-lənt)   
adj.  
  1. Characterized by or suggestive of doing good.
  2. Of, concerned with, or organized for the benefit of charity.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin benevolēns, benevolent- : bene, well; see deu-2 in Indo-European roots + volēns, present participle of velle, to wish; see wel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
be·nev'o·lent·ly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean of, concerned with, providing, or provided by charity: a benevolent fund; a charitable foundation; eleemosynary relief; philanthropic contributions. See Also Synonyms at kind1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

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 their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable. -- Be*nev"o*lent*ly, adv.

Syn: Benevolent, Beneficent.

Usage: Etymologically considered, benevolent implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations, benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase "benevolent labors" turns attention to the source of these labors, viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as productive of good. So, "beneficent intentions" point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while "benevolent intentions" would only denote a general wish and design to do good.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : benevolent
Spanish: benévolo,
German: wohlwollend,
Japanese: 情深い
More Translations »
Search another word or see benevolent on Thesaurus | Reference