English Explanatory Dictionary

benevolent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having a disposition to do good.
  2. Possessing or manifesting love for mankind.
  3. Altruistic, charitable, good, just and fair.

Pronunciation

/bəˈnɛvələnt/ en-us-benevolent.ogg

Word forms

benevolent more benevolent most benevolent

Etymology

From Old French benevolent, borrowed from Latin benevolēns ("benevolent"). Displaced native Old English welwillende (literally well-wishing).

Antonyms

malevolent

Related words

benefactor beneficent well-wisher

Derived words

benevolent absolutism benevolent assimilation benevolent dictator for life benevolently benevolentness benevolent overlord ecobenevolent nonbenevolent omnibenevolent pseudobenevolent semibenevolent superbenevolent ultrabenevolent unbenevolent
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on B Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary