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benevolent

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benevolent


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  their  prosperity  and 
  happiness;  disposed  to  give  to  good  objects;  kind 
  charitable.  --  {Be*nev"o*lent*ly},  adv 
 
  Syn:  {Benevolent},  {Beneficent}. 
 
  Usage:  Etymologically  considered,  benevolent  implies  wishing 
  well  to  others  and  beneficent,  doing  well  But  by 
  degrees  the  word  benevolent  has  been  widened  to 
  include  not  only  feelings,  but  actions;  thus  we  speak 
  of  benevolent  operations,  benevolent  labors  for  the 
  public  good,  benevolent  societies.  In  like  manner, 
  beneficent  is  now  often  applied  to  feelings;  thus  we 
  speak  of  the  beneficent  intentions  of  a  donor.  This 
  extension  of  the  terms  enables  us  to  mark  nicer  shades 
  of  meaning.  Thus  the  phrase  ``benevolent  labors'' 
  turns  attention  to  the  source  of  these  labors,  viz., 
  benevolent  feeling;  while  beneficent  would  simply  mark 
  them  as  productive  of  good.  So  ``beneficent 
  intentions''  point  to  the  feelings  of  the  donor  as 
  bent  upon  some  specific  good  act  while  ``benevolent 
  intentions''  would  only  denote  a  general  wish  and 
  design  to  do  good. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  benevolent 
  adj  1:  doing  or  producing  good  [syn:  {beneficent},  {gracious}] 
  2:  intending  or  showing  kindness;  "a  benevolent  society" 
  3:  having  or  showing  or  arising  from  a  desire  to  promote  the 
  welfare  or  happiness  of  others  "his  benevolent  smile";  "a 
  benevolent  nature"  [syn:  {good}]  [ant:  {malevolent}] 
  4:  generous  in  providing  aid  to  others  [syn:  {freehearted}] 
  5:  generous  in  assistance  to  the  poor;  "a  benevolent 
  contributor";  "eleemosynary  relief";  "philanthropic 
  contributions"  [syn:  {beneficent},  {eleemosynary},  {philanthropic}] 




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