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benevolent definition

be·nevo·lent (-lənt)

adjective

  1. doing or inclined to do good; kindly; charitable
  2. characterized by or resulting from benevolence

Etymology: ME & OFr < L benevolens < bene, well + volens, prp. of velle, to wish: see will

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

benevolent Synonyms

benevolent

modif.

kind, generous, altruistic, helpful; see kind. See syn. study at kind.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

benevolent Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • despot: The table scrap thing makes a person feel like a benevolent despot, a human queen of the cat realm.

Modifying Another Word

  • however: I for one did not actually expect to find the Tower of London infiltrated by anyone, however benevolent; the notion seemed far-fetched.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: After his novel it became an acknowledged public holiday and employers even became more benevolent to the people who worked for them.
benevolent usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

benevolent quotes

The knowledge that you can have is inexhaustible, and what is inexhaustible is benevolent. The knowledge that you cannot have is of the riddles of birth and death, of our future destinyand the purposes of God. Here there is no knowledge, but illusions that restrict freedom and limit hope. Accept the mystery behind knowledge: It is not darkness but shadow.

-Frye, Northrop

benevolent quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"benevolent." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/benevolent>

APA Style

benevolent. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/benevolent

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