Benignantly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that shows kindness or gentleness toward others
2. Expressing a favorable, gentle, or kindly disposition in behavior or attitude
3. Acting with mildness and good-natured intent towards people or situations

Etymology: "Benignantly" is a plain formation: the adjective "benignant" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added to the end. The adjective "benignant" comes from the Latin "benignus," meaning kindly or well-disposed, which itself combines "bene" (well) with "genus" (birth, kind), so the sense is roughly "well-born" or "of good nature." Over time the Latin root gave English a family of words about goodness and kindness, from "benign" to "benevolent." The suffix has a long pedigree of its own. The "-ly" ending descends from an Old English form "-līce," which was attached to adjectives to turn them into manner adverbs, so "kindly" and "benignantly" are built the same way. In Middle English the ending was reduced to "-ly," and English speakers have used it productively ever since to describe how something is done.

Synonyms: kindly, graciously, favorably

Antonyms: harshly, unkindly