benevolence

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Disposition to do good.

   gesture of benevolence

2. 2
   noun

   Charitable kindness.

   His acts of benevolence earned him great respect.

3. 3
   noun

   an act intending or showing kindness and good will

4. 4
   noun

   an inclination to do kind or charitable acts

5. 5
   noun

   disposition to do good

6. 6
   noun

   An altruistic gift or act.

7. 7
   noun

   A kind of forced loan or contribution levied by kings without legal authority, first so called under Edward IV in 1473.

Etymology

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).