benevolence

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Kindness and a wish to do good for others.

   His acts of benevolence earned him great respect.

2. 2
   noun

   A kind or generous act.

   The villagers never forgot her many benevolences.

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).

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