'Benevolence' definitions:
Definition of 'benevolence'
(from WordNet)
noun
Disposition to do good [ant: malevolence, malignity]
noun
An inclination to do kind or charitable acts
noun
An act intending or showing kindness and good will [syn: benevolence, benefaction]
Definition of 'Benevolence'
From: GCIDE
- Benevolence \Be*nev"o*lence\, n. [OF. benevolence, L. benevolentia. See Benevolent.]
- 1. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness. [1913 Webster]
- The wakeful benevolence of the gospel. --Chalmers. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An act of kindness; good done; charity given. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Benevolence, Beneficence, Munificence.
- Usage: Benevolence marks a disposition made up of a choice and desire for the happiness of others. Beneficence marks the working of this disposition in dispensing good on a somewhat broad scale. Munificence shows the same disposition, but acting on a still broader scale, in conferring gifts and favors. These are not necessarily confined to objects of immediate utility. One may show his munificence in presents of pictures or jewelry, but this would not be beneficence. Benevolence of heart; beneficence of life; munificence in the encouragement of letters. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'benevolence'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accommodatingness,
- act of grace,
- act of kindness,
- advantageousness,
- affability,
- agape,
- agreeableness,
- altruism,
- amiability,
- amity,
- auspiciousness,
- benefaction,
- beneficence,
- beneficialness,
- benefit,
- benevolent disposition,
- benevolentness,
- benignancy,
- benignity,
- Benthamism,
- bigheartedness,
- blessing,
- BOMFOG,
- boon,
- brightness,
- brotherly love,
- caritas,
- charitableness,
- charity,
- cheerfulness,
- cheeriness,
- Christian charity,
- Christian love,
- class,
- clemency,
- cogency,
- comity,
- commiseration,
- compassion,
- complaisance,
- compliance,
- compliment,
- condolence,
- condonation,
- contribution,
- courtesy,
- decency,
- desert,
- disregard,
- do-goodism,
- donation,
- excellence,
- expedience,
- fairness,
- favor,
- favorableness,
- feeling,
- fineness,
- first-rateness,
- flower power,
- forbearance,
- forgiveness,
- forgivingness,
- fortunateness,
- friendliness,
- friendship,
- generosity,
- generousness,
- gift,
- giving,
- good auspices,
- good deed,
- good offices,
- good omen,
- good turn,
- goodliness,
- goodness,
- goodwill,
- grace,
- graciosity,
- graciousness,
- grant,
- greatheartedness,
- healthiness,
- helpfulness,
- humanitarianism,
- humanity,
- indulgence,
- kind deed,
- kind offices,
- kindliness,
- kindly act,
- kindness,
- labor of love,
- largeheartedness,
- largess,
- leniency,
- long-suffering,
- longanimity,
- love,
- love of mankind,
- luckiness,
- magnanimity,
- manna,
- mercy,
- merit,
- mitigation,
- mitzvah,
- niceness,
- obligation,
- obligingness,
- office,
- overlooking,
- pardon,
- pathos,
- patience,
- philanthropism,
- philanthropy,
- pity,
- pleasantness,
- present,
- profitableness,
- propitiousness,
- prosperousness,
- quality,
- quarter,
- relief,
- reprieve,
- rewardingness,
- ruth,
- self-pity,
- service,
- skillfulness,
- soundness,
- superiority,
- sympathy,
- tolerance,
- turn,
- unrevengefulness,
- unselfishness,
- usefulness,
- utilitarianism,
- validity,
- value,
- virtue,
- virtuousness,
- welfarism,
- well-disposedness,
- wholeness,
- worth