benevolens
Latin
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [bɛˈnɛ.wɔ.ɫẽːs]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [beˈnɛː.vo.lens]
Adjective
benevolēns (genitive benevolentis, comparative benevolentior, superlative benevolentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective
- present active participle of bene volō (“to wish well”)
- (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
- Benevolentes inter se.
- Friendly to each other.
- Alicui amicus et benevolens.
- A friend and well-wisher to some.
- c. 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.