Added 7 October 2026
benevolence
/bəˈnɛvələns/ noun
In Latin: benevolentia Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about benevolence at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Disposition to do good.
- An inclination to do kind or charitable acts.
- An act intending or showing kindness and good will.
Origin
Circa 1400, original sense “good will, disposition to do good”, Old French benivolence from Latin benevolentia (also directly from Latin), literally “good will”, from bene (“well, good”) + volentia, form of volēns, form of volō (“to wish”), components cognate to English benefit and voluntary, more distantly will (via Proto-Indo-European).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)