Benevolence

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bəˈnɛvələns/

Definitions

1. A quality of kindness and generosity characterized by a genuine desire to help others and promote their well-being
2. A disposition marked by acts of kindness and a heartfelt intention to aid others while fostering their happiness and prosperity
3. An attitude reflecting goodwill and a compassionate willingness to provide support and improve the welfare of those in need

Etymology: Benevolence is built from two ordinary Latin words that are still familiar in English today. "Bene" meant "well" or "good," and the second part comes from "volens," the form of "volo," meaning "to wish." Put together, the Latin "benevolentia" meant simply "good will," a wish for someone else's well-being. Its English relatives are "benefit," which has the same "bene" at its core, and "voluntary," which carries the "volo" idea of choosing freely. The word arrived in English around 1400, borrowed either through Old French, where it appeared as "benivolence," or directly from Latin. Its earliest English sense was not the everyday idea of kindness but a disposition to do good, a readiness of the will in the mind of the person doing it. The modern meaning of kindness toward others developed from that sense of goodwill.

Synonyms: kindness, charity, generosity, altruism, compassion

Antonyms: malevolence, cruelty, selfishness, indifference