benevolent, a.
(bɪˈnɛvələnt)
Also 5 benvolent, 5–6 benyuolente, 6 beneuolent.
[a. OF. benivolent, benvolent, ad. L. bene volent-em, f. bene well + volent-em wishing, willing, pr. pple. of velle to will, wish: see benevolence.]
1. Of the general frame or habit of mind: Desirous of the good of others, of a kindly disposition, charitable, generous.
| 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 75 Redy and benyuolente to alle men whilys he leuyd. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. N.T. Pref. 5 Our beneuolent loue and affeccion. 1725 Pope Odyss. iii. 456 Beloued old man! benevolent as wise. 1781 J. Moore View Soc. It. (1790) I. xxxix. 424 The mild precepts of a benevolent religion. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 406 A small body of sages had turned away with benevolent disdain from the conflict. |
b. transf. of things: Kindly, fostering.
| 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. 306 The benevolent Heat of the Sun hath a great influence thereupon. |
2. With the literal force of the Latin bene volens: Well-wishing, well-disposed to, unto (another).
| 1502 Arnold Chron. (1811) 161 A thinge..for the which wee shal [be] more ben volent unto thy Holynesse. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xx. v, She [Sapience] is to man ryght benyvolent. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 65 Raphael now..Benevolent and facil thus repli'd. |
† 3. quasi-n. = benevolence 3. Obs. (? error.)
| a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. vii. (1677) 541 The Noblemen..made offer to give a benevolent according to their abilities. |