benevolence









benevolence


noun

  1. desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness: to be filled with benevolence toward one’s fellow creatures.
  2. an act of kindness; a charitable gift.
  3. English History. a forced contribution to the sovereign.

noun

  1. inclination or tendency to help or do good to others; charity
  2. an act of kindness
  3. (in the Middle Ages) a forced loan or contribution exacted by English kings from their nobility and subjects
n.

c.1400, “disposition to do good,” from Old French benivolence and directly from Latin benevolentia “good feeling, good will, kindness,” from bene “well” (see bene-) + volantem (nominative volens) present participle of velle “to wish” (see will (v.)). In English history, this was the name given to forced extra-legal loans or contributions to the crown, first so called 1473 by Edward IV, who cynically “asked” it as a token of good will toward his rule.

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