KINDNESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does kindness mean? 

• KINDNESS (noun)
  The noun KINDNESS has 3 senses:

1. the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic

2. tendency to be kind and forgiving

3. a kind act

  Familiarity information: KINDNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KINDNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("kindness" is a kind of...):

good; goodness (moral excellence or admirableness)

Attribute:

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

unkind (lacking kindness)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "kindness"):

generosity; generousness (the trait of being willing to give your money or time)

benevolence (an inclination to do kind or charitable acts)

loving-kindness (tender kindness motivated by a feeling of affection)

considerateness; consideration; thoughtfulness (kind and considerate regard for others)

Antonym:

unkindness (lack of sympathy)

Derivation:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tendency to be kind and forgiving

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

forgivingness; kindness

Hypernyms ("kindness" is a kind of...):

mercifulness; mercy (a disposition to be kind and forgiving)

Derivation:

kind (tolerant and forgiving under provocation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A kind act

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

benignity; kindness

Hypernyms ("kindness" is a kind of...):

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "kindness"):

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

cupboard love (a show of affection motivated by selfishness)

favor; favour (an act of gracious kindness)

forgiveness; pardon (the act of excusing a mistake or offense)

endearment (the act of showing affection)

consideration; thoughtfulness (a considerate and thoughtful act)

Derivation:

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

 Context examples 

His primacy was savage, and savagely he ruled, administering justice with a club, punishing transgression with the pain of a blow, and rewarding merit, not by kindness, but by withholding a blow.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

She put it as a favor, but I'm sure Mrs. Kirke has told her about us, and she does it out of kindness to me.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

By her grateful attention to me and mine, she has long since well repaid any little kindness I ever had it in my power to offer her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I was much touched by their kindness.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

That's a kindness, I should call it!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

His kindness to his little cousin was consistent with his situation and rights: he made her some very pretty presents, and laughed at her.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Jane will be treated with such regard and kindness!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

By the kindness of her first friends, the Allens, she had been introduced into scenes where pleasures of every kind had met her.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Her father and sister were glad to see her, for the sake of shewing her the house and furniture, and met her with kindness.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

"I'm glad it's over with," he said. "You've treated me like a Christian, an' I'm thankin' you hearty for your kindness."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)