Benevolently definition

Benevolently





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2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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

















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