First published 1887; not fully revised
Factsheet
What does the adjective benevolent mean?
There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective benevolent, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the adjective benevolent?
About 4occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the adjective benevolent pronounced?
British English
/bᵻˈnɛvələnt/
buh-NEV-uh-luhnt
/bᵻˈnɛvl̩(ə)nt/
buh-NEV-uhl-uhnt
U.S. English
/bəˈnɛvələnt/
buh-NEV-uh-luhnt
See pronunciation
Where does the adjective benevolent come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the adjective benevolent is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for benevolent is from 1482, in the Monk of Evesham.
benevolent is a borrowing from French.
Etymons: French benivolent.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- beneship, n.
- benet, n.c1383–
- benet, v.1604–
- bene-tithe, adj.c1200
- benettle, v.1611
- beneurous, adj.1483
- beneurte, n.1480
- Beneventan, adj.1882–
- benevolence, n.c1384–
- benevolency, n.1545–1767
- benevolent, adj.1482–
- benevolently, adv.1532–
- benevolentness, n.1736–
- benevoler, n.?1488
- benevolist, n.1825–
- benevolous, adj.1470–1670
- benewred, adj.1483
- benewrely, adv.1483
- ben-feaker, n.1612–88
- Benford's law, n.1969–
- benga, n.1981–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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