BENEVOLENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does benevolent mean? 

• BENEVOLENT (adjective)
  The adjective BENEVOLENT has 4 senses:

1. intending or showing kindness

2. showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

3. generous in providing aid to others

4. generous in assistance to the poor

  Familiarity information: BENEVOLENT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BENEVOLENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Intending or showing kindness

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

a benevolent society

Pertainym:

benevolence (an act intending or showing kindness and good will)

Derivation:

benevolence (an act intending or showing kindness and good will)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

Synonyms:

benevolent; charitable; good-hearted; kindly; large-hearted; openhearted; sympathetic

Context example:

a large-hearted mentor

Similar:

kind (having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Generous in providing aid to others

Synonyms:

benevolent; freehearted

Similar:

generous (willing to give and share unstintingly)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Generous in assistance to the poor

Synonyms:

beneficent; benevolent; eleemosynary; philanthropic

Context example:

philanthropic contributions

Similar:

charitable (full of love and generosity)

 Context examples 

I had begun life with benevolent intentions and thirsted for the moment when I should put them in practice and make myself useful to my fellow beings.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

His very boots were benevolent, and his collars never stiff and raspy like other people's.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The Doctor nodded his benevolent head.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I know no man more likely than Mr. Knightley to do the sort of thing—to do any thing really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Captain Harville was a tall, dark man, with a sensible, benevolent countenance; a little lame; and from strong features and want of health, looking much older than Captain Wentworth.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

You have both warm hearts and benevolent feelings; and, Fanny, who that heard him read, and saw you listen to Shakespeare the other night, will think you unfitted as companions?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have equalled.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To me it was as if I had been wafted to a fairy world, and my uncle might have been some benevolent enchanter in a high-collared, long-tailed coat, who was guiding me about in it.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Benevolent, philanthropic man!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Several wealthy and benevolent individuals in the county subscribed largely for the erection of a more convenient building in a better situation; new regulations were made; improvements in diet and clothing introduced; the funds of the school were intrusted to the management of a committee.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)