Where does “benevolent” come from?
Benevolent comes from Old French benevolent, from Latin benevolens, combining Latin bene (well) and volens (willing), ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to wish or desire.
benevolent (English): Having a disposition to do good; Possessing or...
Definitions
- Having a disposition to do good; Possessing or...
Ancestry of “benevolent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | benevolent | — |
| 2 | Latin | benevolens | kind, wishing well, benevolent, friendly, with a... |
| 3 | Latin | bene | well; properly, exactly; agreeably, favorably |
| 4 | Latin | bonus | good, honest, brave, noble, kind, pleasant;... |
| 5 | Old Latin | duenos | Alternative form of duonus |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | dwenos | good |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dew- | to show favour, revere; to fail, to lag, to be... |