bienveillance

Forms

bienveillance f (plural bienveillances)^[1] Old French bienvoillance (about 1175).^[2][3] The language long hesitated between benivoillance, bienvoillance, benivolence and bienveuillance.^[4]

Etymology

It is from French bienveillant (“benevolent”), on the model of Latin benevolentia.^[3][2][5][1] The adjective is made of bien and veuillant, the old present participle of vouloir;^[2][4][1] this participle kept its old form in both words until the 17th century.^[6] The modern spelling with ⟨-veill-⟩ made the word look like veiller, with which it has nothing to do.^[4][1]

The French word replaced the learned borrowings Old French benevolence and benivolence, used from the 12th to the 16th century.^[3][4] Compare Old Occitan benvolensa, Catalan benevolensa, Spanish benevolencia and Italian benevolenza.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as bienvoillance about 1175,^[2][3] and the GLLF dates it to Marie de France at the end of the 12th century.^[5] It meant a favourable disposition towards someone.^[3] In the Roman de la Rose (13th century) benivoillance is the good will of God and bien-voillance the friendly favour of a person.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Until the 18th century the word named the feeling of wishing someone well, as in Descartes's contrast of amour de bienveillance and amour de concupiscence.^[7] In moral philosophy it is benevolence as a virtue, a generous disposition towards mankind.^[8]

In ordinary use the moral virtue has given way to a favourable attitude between persons, especially of a superior towards an inferior (1680).^[3][7] Hence the formula of a request to a high official, solliciter de votre haute bienveillance.^[7][5][8] It also means indulgence, as of examiners towards candidates.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1175 – First record, as bienvoillance.^[2][3]
• 13th century – The Roman de la Rose has benivoillance and bien-voillance.^[4]
• 14th century – Oresme uses the learned benivolence.^[4]
• 16th century – Montaigne writes bienveuillance; the learned benevolence goes out of use.^[4][3]
• 17th century – The form with veuillant is given up.^[6]
• 1680 – It is used of a superior's favour towards an inferior.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. goodwill, a favourable disposition towards someone, especially towards a person of lower rank or age: Le directeur l'a écoutée avec bienveillance.^[7][5][1]
2. (philosophy, dated) benevolence, the feeling of wishing others well, as a virtue.^[7][8]
3. An act or sign of this disposition.^[5]
4. Indulgence, leniency: Le jury a fait preuve de bienveillance.^[5]
5. Solliciter de votre haute bienveillance: a polite formula in a request to a person of high rank.^[7][5]

Related words

• bienveillant
• malveillance
• bénévole
• vouloir
• Latin benevolentia

Usage notes

Littré insisted on a pronunciation with ll mouillées rather than /j/.^[4] The opposite is malveillance, formed the same way from malveillant.^[6][7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard