benevolent

benevolent: benevolent 1 *charitable, philanthropic, eleemosynary, humanitarian, humane, altruistic

Analogous words: benign, benignant, kindly, *kind: generous, *liberal, bountiful, bounteous, openhanded: obliging, complaisant, *amiable

Antonyms: malevolent

Contrasted words: *malicious, malignant, malign, spiteful: *stingy, close, miserly

2 Benevolent, beneficent are closely related rather than strictly synonymous terms.

Benevolent, which applies primarily to persons, means kindly in feelings and disposed to be generous or charitable, thereby emphasizing the will to do good, while beneficent, which applies to persons and things, means doing or effecting good, thereby emphasizing the fact of doing good. Consequently benevolent is not only applied to a person, a group, or an institution, but to matters (as looks, attitudes, intentions, manners, and tones) that suggest a kindly disposition or a wish to help

{
beloved old man! benevolent as wise— Pope
}

{
the mild precepts of a benevolent religion— John Moore
}

{
the heart benevolent and kind the most resembles God— Burns
}

Benevolent may sometimes take on a new connotation either seriously or ironically and suggest the attitude of a person on the outside who is little more than a well-wisher

{
the mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation, substituting the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary rule— McKinley
}

{
few persistent novelists, I suppose, have ever received in one lifetime so generous a measure of benevolent neglect— Glasgow
}

Beneficent heightens the implication of doing good. It is therefore preferred when the emphasis is upon accomplishment rather than upon intention

{
a beneficent economic policy
}

{
a beneficent sovereign
}

{
the stars were no longer regarded as malignant or beneficent powers— L. P. Smith
}

{
certain influences appear, specifically that of Lipchitz, but these are beneficent, and they suggest no feeling of constraint in the artist— Coates
}

Unlike benevolent, beneficent may be used without any hint of volition and is then applicable to the benefits produced by things

{
overflows its banks and leaves beneficent layers of fertile soil— Mumford
}

{
the beneficent Gulf stream prevents things from really getting cold— Joseph
}

Ana, Ant & Contrasted words: see those at BENEVOLENT 1

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Synonyms:

Kind, benignant, benign, kind-hearted, obliging, humane, tender, charitable, generous, liberal, philanthropic, altruistic, unselfish, disposed to do good, full of good-will

Look at other dictionaries:

Benevolent — Be*nev o*lent, a. [L. benevolens, entis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See {Bounty}, and {Voluntary}.] Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
benevolent — I adjective accommodating, affable, agreeable, altruistic, amiable, amicable, bearing good will, beneficient, benevolus, benign, big hearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, complacent, condolent, considerate, cooperative, cordial, decent,… … Law dictionary
bénévolent — ⇒BÉNÉVOLENT, ENTE, adj. Rare, littér. vieilli. [En parlant d une pers. ou de l expression hum.] Qui se montre bienveillant, d une bonté indulgente : • 1. ... il semblait qu une similitude d âge et de cœur réunît dans le groupe des goûts anciens M … Encyclopédie Universelle
benevolent — (adj.) mid 15c., wishing to do good, kindly, from M.Fr. benivolent and directly from L. benevolentem (nom. benevolens) wishing (someone) well, benevolent, related to benevolentia good feeling (see BENEVOLENCE (Cf. benevolence)). Related:… … Etymology dictionary
Benevolent — (v. lat.), wohlwollend, geneigt; daher Benevolenz, Geneigtheit, Wohlwollen, Gunst … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Benevolént — (lat.), wohlwollend; Benevolenz (benevolentia), das Wohlwollen … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
Benevolént — (lat.), wohlwollend; Benevolénz, Wohlwollen, Geneigtheit, Gunst. Benevŏle (benevolentissĭme), lector, geneigter (sehr geneigter) Leser … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon
benevolent — [adj] charitable, kind all heart, altruistic, beneficent, benign, big, big hearted, bounteous, bountiful, caring, chivalrous, compassionate, considerate, generous, helpful, humane, humanitarian, kindhearted, liberal, magnanimous, philanthropic,… … New thesaurus
benevolent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) well meaning and kindly. 2) (of an organization) charitable rather than profit making. DERIVATIVES benevolence noun benevolently adverb. ORIGIN Old French benivolent, from Latin bene well + velle to wish … English terms dictionary
benevolent — [bə nev′ələnt] adj. [ME & OFr < L benevolens < bene, well + volens, prp. of velle, to wish: see WILL1] 1. doing or inclined to do good; kindly; charitable 2. characterized by or resulting from benevolence SYN. KIND benevolently adv … English World dictionary

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