benigne Latin · revision 31217

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''benignē''' (comparative benignius, superlative benignissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[m|la|benignus|t=kind, generous]] with the adverbial suffix [[m|la|-ē]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) The adjective is a compound of a form of [[m|la|bene|t=well]] and ⟨-gnus⟩ from [[m|la|gignō|t=to beget]], like [[m|la|malignus]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus is its first author,^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) with ''mē benignius omnēs salūtant'', “everybody greets me more kindly”, in the ''Aulularia'', and ''date benignē operam mihi'', “give me your kind attention”, in the ''Asinaria''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is kindly or benevolently, and ''benignē facere'' is to do a kindness, as Terence's “to speak pleasantly or act kindly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In comedy it is a formula of thanks, “that's kind of you”, as Plautus' ''edepol, Hegiō, facis benignē'', used also to decline politely;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary renders it “thank you” or “no, thank you”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In law it is leniently, as Celsus' “laws are to be interpreted more leniently so that their intent is preserved”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It also means readily or willingly, as Livy's “the plebs took up arms readily”, and generously or abundantly, as Terence's “let what is needed be provided generously”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it with the adjective's “merciful, kindly, gracious”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of kind greetings and as a formula of thanks.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence has ''benignē facere''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy for “readily”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Kindly, [[m|en|benevolently]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''benignē facere'', to do a kindness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(as a reply)'' Thank you; no, thank you.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' [[m|en|leniently|alt=Leniently]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Readily, willingly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Generously, liberally, abundantly.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[benignitās]]

+ * [[benigniter]]

+ * [[benignor]]

+ * [[benignus]]

+ * [[perbenīgnē]]

+ * [[malignē]]

+ * [[līberāliter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}