benign

benign
benignly, adv.
/bi nuyn"/, adj.
1. having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king.
2. showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness: a benign smile.
3. favorable; propitious: a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.
4. (of weather) salubrious; healthful; pleasant or beneficial.
5. Pathol. not malignant; self-limiting.
[1275-1325; ME benigne < AF, OF benigne (fem.), benin (masc.) < L benignus kind, generous, equiv. to beni-, comb. form of bonus good (see BENE-) + -gnus, deriv. of the base of gignere to beget (see GENITOR, GENUS), hence, perh., "good by nature"; cf. MALIGN]
Syn. 1. good, kindly, benignant, benevolent, tender, humane, gentle, compassionate.
Ant. 3. sinister.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • benign — BENÍGN, Ă, benigni, e, adj. (Despre boli) Lipsit de gravitate; uşor. – Din lat. benignus, fr. bénin, igne. Trimis de paula, 02.06.2002. Sursa: DEX 98  Benign ≠ malign Trimis de siveco, 03.08.2004. Sursa: Antonime  BENÍGN adj. (med.) curabil,… …   Dicționar Român

  • Benign — Be*nign , a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. b[ e]nin, fem. b[ e]nigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See {Bounty}, and {Genus}.] 1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • benign — [adj1] kindly amiable, beneficent, benevolent, benignant, complaisant, congenial, favorable, friendly, generous, genial, gentle, good, goodhearted, gracious, kind, liberal, merciful, mild, obliging, sympathetic; concept 542 Ant. hateful, hostile …   New thesaurus

  • benign — (adj.) early 14c., from O.Fr. benigne (12c., kind, benign, merciful, gracious; Mod.Fr. bénin, fem. bénigne), from L. benignus kindly, kindhearted, friendly, generous, lit. well born, from bene well (see BENE (Cf. bene )) + gignere to bear, beget …   Etymology dictionary

  • benign — [bi nīn′] adj. [ME & OFr benigne < L benignus, good, lit., well born < bene, well (cf. sense development of GENTLE) + genus, birth: see GENUS] 1. good natured; kindly 2. favorable; beneficial 3. Med. doing little or no harm; not malignant;… …   English World dictionary

  • benign — index beneficial, benevolent, charitable (lenient), favorable (expressing approval), harmless, humane, nontoxic …   Law dictionary

  • benign — 1 benignant, kindly, *kind Analogous words: *gracious, genial, cordial, affable: sympathetic, *tender, compassionate: *suave, urbane, bland Antonyms: malign Contrasted words: malignant, malevolent, *malicious, spiteful: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • benign — is principally used in medicine to mean ‘not life threatening’; its opposite is malignant. The word benignant, meaning ‘kindly’ or ‘beneficial’, has largely fallen out of use …   Modern English usage

  • benign — ► ADJECTIVE 1) genial and kindly. 2) favourable; not harmful. 3) (of a tumour) not malignant. DERIVATIVES benignity noun benignly adverb. ORIGIN Latin benignus, probably from bene well + genus born …   English terms dictionary

  • benign — [[t]bɪna͟ɪn[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n You use benign to describe someone who is kind, gentle, and harmless. They are normally a more benign audience... Critics of the scheme take a less benign view. Syn: charitable Derived words: benignly ADV …   English dictionary

  • benign — adjective Etymology: Middle English benigne, from Anglo French, from Latin benignus, from bene + gignere to beget more at kin Date: 14th century 1. of a gentle disposition ; gracious < a benign teacher > 2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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