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more about benevolent
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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