benignity

English

Etymology

From Middle English benignite, from Old French benignité, from Latin benignitās.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəˈnɪɡnəti/

Noun

benignity (countable and uncountable, plural benignities)

1. (uncountable) The state of being benign.
   • 1648, Walter Montagu, “The Fourteenth Treatise. The Test and Ballance of Filial and Mercenary Love. §. II. Mercenary Love Defined, and the Relying Much on It Disswaded.”, in Miscellanea Spiritualia: Or, Devout Essaies, London: […] W[illiam] Lee, D[aniel] Pakeman, and G[abriel] Bedell, […], →OCLC, page 186:

     [W]e muſt not take this mercifull indulgence given to our defectuoſities, as a diſpenſation for the ſordidnes of our loves, but rather in a holy effect and contention of gratitude, ſtrain to love God the more purely, and irreſpectively to our ſelves, in regard of the tranſcendent benignity of this diſpenſation.

   • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter L, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 19:

     […] and presented her, with pride not less than pleasure, to their noble visitant, who, although surprised by the youthfulness of her countenance (rendered the more striking from her late illness), thought that its gentle benignity augured well for his future hopes, […]

2. (countable) A benign act.

Synonyms

• benignancy
• benignness

Antonyms

• malignancy

Related terms

• benign
• benignly