benevolence
[buh-nev-uh-luh ns]
- desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness: to be filled with benevolence toward one's fellow creatures.
- an act of kindness; a charitable gift.
- English History. a forced contribution to the sovereign.
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Origin of benevolence
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word benevolentia. See benevolent, -ence
Antonyms
1. malevolence.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for benevolence
Contemporary Examples
And your current brand of persuasion entails tempering pushiness with aplomb, brute force with benevolence.
Historical Examples
With what warmth of benevolence—how should he be otherwise than warm in any of his attributes?
Fire Worship (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")Nathaniel Hawthorne
Even in my benevolence I was as impatient and unreasonable as a child.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
His desire to please evidently arose not from vanity but benevolence.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
The parson had bent forward, and was eyeing her curiously, yet with benevolence.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
He is as thorough a worker in the cause of religion, morality and benevolence as in trade.
Cleveland Past and PresentMaurice Joblin
benevolence
- inclination or tendency to help or do good to others; charity
- an act of kindness
- (in the Middle Ages) a forced loan or contribution exacted by English kings from their nobility and subjects
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for benevolence
n.
c.1400, "disposition to do good," from Old French benivolence and directly from Latin benevolentia "good feeling, good will, kindness," from bene "well" (see bene-) + volantem (nominative volens) present participle of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)). In English history, this was the name given to forced extra-legal loans or contributions to the crown, first so called 1473 by Edward IV, who cynically "asked" it as a token of good will toward his rule.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper