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benign - 8 dictionary results

be⋅nign

[bi-nahyn]
–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


be⋅nign⋅ly, adverb


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


3. sinister.
be·nign   (bĭ-nīn')   
adj.  
  1. Of a kind and gentle disposition.
  2. Showing gentleness and mildness. See Synonyms at kind1.
  3. Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable: a policy with benign consequences for the economy. See Synonyms at favorable.
  4. Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless: a chemical additive that is environmentally benign.
  5. 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.

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.
Language Translation for : benign
Spanish: benigno, bondadoso,
German: gütig,
Japanese: 優しい

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.

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.

Main Entry: be·nign
Pronunciation: bi-'nIn
Function: adjective
1 : of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life<benign malaria> benign tumor> —compare MALIGNANT 1
2 : having a goodprognosis : responding favorably to treatment benign psychosis>

benign be·nign (bĭ-nīn')
adj.
Of no danger to health, especially relating to a tumorous growth; not malignant.

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