'Benevolent' definitions:
Definition of 'benevolent'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Intending or showing kindness; "a benevolent society"
adjective
Showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity; "was charitable in his opinions of others"; "kindly criticism"; "a kindly act"; "sympathetic words"; "a large-hearted mentor" [syn: charitable, benevolent, kindly, sympathetic, good-hearted, openhearted, large-hearted]
adjective
Generous in providing aid to others [syn: benevolent, freehearted]
adjective
Generous in assistance to the poor; "a benevolent contributor"; "eleemosynary relief"; "philanthropic contributions" [syn: beneficent, benevolent, eleemosynary, philanthropic]
Definition of 'Benevolent'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'benevolent'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accommodating,
- advantageous,
- affable,
- agreeable,
- almsgiving,
- altruistic,
- amiable,
- amicable,
- auspicious,
- beneficent,
- beneficial,
- benign,
- benignant,
- big,
- bighearted,
- bon,
- bonny,
- braw,
- bueno,
- capital,
- caring,
- charitable,
- chivalrous,
- cogent,
- commendable,
- compassionate,
- complaisant,
- compliant,
- conciliatory,
- considerate,
- cooperative,
- decent,
- eleemosynary,
- elegant,
- estimable,
- excellent,
- expedient,
- fair,
- famous,
- favorable,
- fine,
- forbearing,
- forgiving,
- freehearted,
- friendly,
- generous,
- good,
- goodly,
- gracious,
- grand,
- greathearted,
- healthy,
- helpful,
- humane,
- humanitarian,
- indulgent,
- kind,
- kindly,
- kindly-disposed,
- largehearted,
- laudable,
- liberal,
- lofty,
- long-suffering,
- longanimous,
- magnanimous,
- neighborly,
- nice,
- noble,
- obliging,
- open-handed,
- openhanded,
- overindulgent,
- overpermissive,
- patient,
- permissive,
- philanthropic,
- placable,
- pleasant,
- profitable,
- propitious,
- public-spirited,
- regal,
- royal,
- salutary,
- skillful,
- sound,
- sparing,
- splendid,
- sympathetic,
- tenderhearted,
- thoughtful,
- tolerant,
- unresentful,
- unrevengeful,
- useful,
- valid,
- very good,
- virtuous,
- warm-hearted,
- welfare,
- welfare statist,
- welfarist,
- well-affected,
- well-disposed,
- well-intentioned,
- well-meaning,
- well-meant