Definitions for benevolence
bəˈnɛv ə lənsbenev·o·lence

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. benevolencenoun

   disposition to do good

2. benevolencenoun

   an inclination to do kind or charitable acts

3. benevolence, benefactionnoun

   an act intending or showing kindness and good will

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 3 votes

1. benevolencenoun

   disposition to do good

2. benevolencenoun

   charitable kindness

3. benevolencenoun

   an altruistic gift or act

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Benevolencenoun

   Etymology: benevolentia, Lat.

   1. Disposition to do good; kindness; charity; good will.

   Grasp the whole worlds of reason, life, and sense,
   In one close system of benevolence. Alexander Pope, Essay on Man.

   2. The good done; the charity given.3. A kind of tax.

   This tax, called a benevolence, was devised by Edward IV. for which he sustained much envy. It was abolished by Richard III. Francis Bacon, Henry VII.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. benevolence

   Benevolence is the quality of being kind, generous, and goodwill towards others, often characterized by actions of charity, selflessness and desire to promote happiness and welfare of others. It is a virtue that encourages acts of kindness and altruistic behavior.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Benevolencenoun

   the disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness

2. Benevolencenoun

   an act of kindness; good done; charity given

3. Benevolencenoun

   a species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Benevolence

   ben-ev′ol-ens, n. disposition to do good: an act of kindness: generosity: a gift of money, esp. for support of the poor: (Eng. hist.) a kind of forced loan or contribution, levied by kings without legal authority, first so called under Edward IV. in 1473.—adj. Benev′olent, charitable, generous, well disposed to.—adv. Benev′olently. [Through Fr. from L. benevolentia.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Benevolence

   the name of a forced tax exacted from the people by certain kings of England, and which, under Charles I., became so obnoxious as to occasion the demand of the Petition of Rights (q. v.), that no tax should be levied without consent of Parliament; first enforced in 1473, declared illegal in 1689.

Matched Categories

1. • Kindness
   • Love

How to pronounce benevolence?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say benevolence in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of benevolence in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of benevolence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of benevolence in a Sentence

1. James Boswell:

   To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.

2. Adam Smith:

   It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own neccessities but of their advantages.

3. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man 1871:

   Man with all his noble qualities, with sympathy which feels for the most debased, with benevolence which extends not only to other men but to the humblest living creature, with his god-like intellect which has penetrated into the movements and constitution of the solar system- with all these exalted powers- Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin.

4. John Jay Chapman:

   Benevolence alone will not make a teacher, nor will learning alone do it. The gift of teaching is a peculiar talent, and implies a need and a craving in the teacher himself.

5. Randolph Ray:

   Kindness is the life's blood, the elixir of marriage. Kindness makes the difference between passion and caring. Kindness is tenderness. Kindness is love, but perhaps greater than love ... Kindness is good will. Kindness says, 'I want you to be happy.' Kindness comes very close to the benevolence of God.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=benevolence
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Benevolence
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=benevolence
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benevolence
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=benevolence
7. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Benevolence