benevolent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective intending or showing kindness
    • a benevolent society
  2. adjective satellite showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
    sympathetic; kindly; large-hearted; charitable; good-hearted; openhearted.
    • was charitable in his opinions of others
    • kindly criticism
    • a kindly act
    • sympathetic words
    • a large-hearted mentor
  3. adjective satellite generous in providing aid to others
    freehearted.
  4. adjective satellite generous in assistance to the poor
    eleemosynary; beneficent; philanthropic.
    • a benevolent contributor
    • eleemosynary relief
    • philanthropic contributions

WordNet

Be*nev"o*lent adjective
Etymology
L. benevolens, -entis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See Bounty, and Voluntary.
Definitions
  1. Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable. -- Be*nev"o*lent*ly, adv. Syn. -- Benevolent, Beneficent. Etymologically considered, benevolent implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations, benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase "benevolent labors" turns attention to the source of these labors, viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as productive of good. So, "beneficent intentions" point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while "benevolent intentions" would only denote a general wish and design to do good.

Webster 1913