benevolens

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /beˈne.u̯o.lens/, [bɛˈneu̯ɔɫ̪ẽːs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /beˈne.vo.lens/, [beˈnɛːvolens]

Adjective

benevolēns (genitive benevolentis, comparative benevolentior, superlative benevolentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective

1. present active participle of bene volō (“to wish well”)
2. (willing or wishing well to others) benevolent, friendly, kind, kind-hearted, well-intentioned, well-meaning, well-wishing, well-willing

   Synonyms: affābilis, amīcābilis, facilis

   Antonyms: inimīcus, hostīlis, īnfestus, īnfēnsus, oblīquus, adversus, dīversus, āversus, inīquus

   • ~190 BCE, Titus Maccius Plautus, Truculentus Act 2.Scene 2:

     Si ecastor hic homo sinapi victitet, non censeam tam esse tristem posse. At pol ero benevolens visust suo. Verum ego illúm, quamquam violentust, spero inmutari pote blandimentis, oramentis, ceteris meretriciis; vidi equom ex indomito domitum fieri atque alias beluas.

     If, by Castor, this fellow were living on mustard, I don't think he could possibly be as snappish. But, I troth, how kind to his master he is. Still, although he is a savage, I trust that he can be changed by coaxing, allurements, and other arts of the courtesan. I've seen a horse from unruly become tamed, and other brutes as well.

   Benevolentes inter se.

   Friendly to each other.

   Alicui amicus et benevolens.

   A friend and well-wisher to some.

3. favorable, propitious

Usage notes

• Much used in anteclassical. In the classical era the adjective benevolus was used.

Declension

Third-declension one-termination adjective.

	singular			plural
	masc./fem.	neuter		masc./fem.	neuter
nominative	benevolēns			benevolentēs	benevolentia
genitive	benevolentis			benevolentium
dative	benevolentī			benevolentibus
accusative	benevolentem	benevolēns		benevolentēs	benevolentia
ablative	benevolentī			benevolentibus
vocative	benevolēns			benevolentēs	benevolentia

Noun

benevolēns m or f (genitive benevolentis); third declension

1. a friend, a well-wisher, someone of a kind heart

Declension

Third-declension noun.

	singular	plural
nominative	benevolēns	benevolentēs
genitive	benevolentis	benevolentum
dative	benevolentī	benevolentibus
accusative	benevolentem	benevolentēs
ablative	benevolente	benevolentibus
vocative	benevolēns	benevolentēs

References

• “benevolens”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “benevolens”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• benevolens in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.