benign - Definitions from Dictionary.com

9 results for: benign

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

be·nign

Audio Help [bi-nahyn] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king.

2.	showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness: a benign smile.

3.	favorable; propitious: a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.

4.	(of weather) salubrious; healthful; pleasant or beneficial.

5.	Pathology. not malignant; self-limiting.

[Origin: 1275–1325; ME benigne < AF, OF benigne (fem.), benin (masc.) < L benignus kind, generous, equiv. to beni-, comb. form of bonus good (see bene-) + -gnus, deriv. of the base of gignere to beget (see genitor, genus), hence, perh., “good by nature”; cf. malign

]

—Related forms

be·nign·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. good, kindly, benignant, benevolent, tender, humane, gentle, compassionate.

—Antonyms 3. sinister.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
benign

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

be·nign Audio Help (bĭ-nīn') Pronunciation Key
adj.

Of a kind and gentle disposition.
Showing gentleness and mildness. See Synonyms at kind¹.
Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable: a policy with benign consequences for the economy. See Synonyms at favorable.
Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless: a chemical additive that is environmentally benign.
Medicine Of no danger to health; not recurrent or progressive; not malignant: a benign tumor.

[Middle English benigne, from Old French, from Latin benignus; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]

be·nign'ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
benign

c.1320, from O.Fr. benigne, from L. benignus "good, kind," lit. "well born," from bene "well" + gignere "to bear, beget," from genus "birth" (see genus). For similar sense evolution, see gentle, kind, generous.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

benign
adjective
1.	not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor) [ant: malignant]
2.	pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence; "a benign smile"; "the benign sky"; "the benign influence of pure air" [ant: malign]
3.	kindness of disposition or manner; "the benign ruler of millions"; "benign intentions"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
benign1 [biˈnain] adjective

kind, well-wishing
Example: a benign smile

Arabic:	لَطيف، رَقيق
Chinese (Simplified):	慈祥的
Chinese (Traditional):	慈祥的
Czech:	vlídný, laskavý
Danish:	venligsindet; mild; venlig
Dutch:	vriendelijk
Estonian:	heatahtlik
Finnish:	hyväntahtoinen
French:	bienveillant
German:	gütig
Greek:	καλοκάγαθος
Hungarian:	üdvös
Icelandic:	góðlátlegur
Indonesian:	ramah
Italian:	benevolo

Japanese:	優しい
Korean:	친절한
Latvian:	laipns; vēlīgs
Lithuanian:	malonus, švelnus
Norwegian:	mild, velvillig
Polish:	dobrotliwy
Portuguese (Brazil):	bondoso
Portuguese (Portugal):	bondoso
Romanian:	binevoitor
Russian:	добросердечный
Slovak:	vľúdny, dobrotivý
Slovenian:	prijazen
Spanish:	benigno, bondadoso
Swedish:	välvillig, godhjärtad
Turkish:	yumuşak huylu, iyi kalpli, merhametli

benign2 [biˈnain] adjective

not fatal
Example: a benign tumour

Arabic:	غير خَبيث , * سَرَطاني
Chinese (Simplified):	（瘤等）良性的
Chinese (Traditional):	良性的, 非致命的
Czech:	benigní, nezhoubný
Danish:	godartet
Dutch:	goedaardig
Estonian:	healoomuline
Finnish:	hyvänlaatuinen
French:	bénin
German:	gutartig
Greek:	καλοήθης
Hungarian:	jóindulatú
Icelandic:	góðkynjaður
Indonesian:	tidak ganas
Italian:	benigno

Japanese:	良性の
Korean:	양성의
Latvian:	labdabīgs
Lithuanian:	gerybinis
Norwegian:	godartet
Polish:	niezłośliwy
Portuguese (Brazil):	benigno
Portuguese (Portugal):	benigno
Romanian:	benign
Russian:	доброкачественный
Slovak:	benígny
Slovenian:	benigen
Spanish:	benigno
Swedish:	godartad
Turkish:	öldürücü olmayan, tehlikesiz, habis olmayan

See also: benignly

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

benign Audio Help (bĭ-nīn') Pronunciation Key
Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant. Compare malignant.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
benign [(bi-neyen)]

A descriptive term for conditions that present no danger to life or well-being. Benign is the opposite of malignant.

Note: The term benign is used when describing tumors or growths that do not threaten the health of an individual.

[Chapter:] Medicine and Health

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Benign

Be*nign"\, a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. b['e]nin, fem. b['e]nigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.]

1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant.

Creator bounteous and benign. --Milton.

2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild; kindly; salutary; wholesome.

Kind influences and benign aspects. --South.

3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease.

Syn: Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary; gracious; liberal.

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