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more about benevolently
benevolently |
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]: benevolently adv : in a benevolent manner; "she looked on benevolently" [ant: {malevolently}]
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