benignus Latin · revision 31165

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la bene, la gignō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [bɛˈnɪŋ.nʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [beˈniɲ.ɲus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''benignus''' (feminine benigna, neuter benignum, comparative benīgnior, superlative benīgnissimus, adverb benignē or benigniter); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of ⟨beni-⟩, a form of [[m|la|bene|t=well]] (from [[m|la|bonus|t=good]]), and ⟨-gnus⟩ from [[m|la|gignō|t=to beget]], so “of good birth or nature”; compare [[m|la|malignus|t=malicious]] and [[m|la|prīvignus|t=stepson]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Paul's epitome of Festus already explains it as made of ⟨bonus⟩ and ⟨gignere⟩.^(TLL) De Vaan derives ⟨bene⟩ from an ablative ⟨*duenēd⟩ of [[m|la|bonus]], Old Latin ⟨duenos⟩, from [[itc-pro|*dweno-|t=good]], and ⟨gignō⟩ from [[ine-pro|*ǵenh₁-|t=to engender]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus is its first author,^(Köbler 2010) with ''quaesō ut benignīs accipiātis auribus'', “I beg you to listen with kindly ears”, in the prologue of the ''Menaechmi'', and the man who is “generous rather than thrifty” in the ''Truculentus''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is kind or beneficent, and open-handed or generous, as in Plautus; in law it is lenient or equitable.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of things it is beneficial or favourable, as Horace's Tantalus “in want of a kindly meal”, and in poetry copious or abundant, as Horace's “a rich vein of talent”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The TLL records ''Benignus'' as a cognomen and Christian name, and Wiktionary as a medieval given name.^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it “merciful, loving, good, gracious, benign, kindly, favorable”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|benign]] came from it through Old French in the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of kindly ears and of a generous man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of a kindly meal and a rich vein of talent.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English [[m|en|benign]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|kind|alt=Kind]], beneficent, friendly.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|generous|alt=Generous]], open-handed, liberal.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' Lenient, equitable.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of things) [[m|en|beneficial|alt=Beneficial]], favourable; propitious.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(poetic)'' Copious, abundant; fertile.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[benignitās]]

+ * [[benignor]]

+ * [[benignē]]

+ * [[benigniter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[malignus]]

+ * [[gignō]]

+ * [[bonus]]

+ * [[en|benign]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts it with ''largus'': ''largus'' is anyone who gives richly, from whatever motive, while ''benignus'', ''līberālis'' and ''mūnificus'' name virtuous qualities.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}