benevolus Latin · revision 34529

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [bɛˈnɛ.wɔ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [beˈnɛː.vo.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''benevolus''' (feminine benevola, neuter benevolum, comparative benevolentior, superlative benevolentissimus, adverb benevolē); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Often spelled ''benivolus'' in manuscripts and inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|bene|volō#1|t1=well|t2=to wish]], with the adjective ending [[m|la|-us]]: one who wishes well.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan lists it beside [[m|la|malevolus|t=ill-disposed]] and the participial adjectives [[m|la|benevolēns]] and [[m|la|malevolēns]] among the derivatives of the verb.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''benevolus'' “well-disposed” towards someone.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It describes people who are kindly or well-disposed towards someone, and by extension kindly feelings and acts;^(OLD 2012) Seneca defines a benefit as a ''benevola āctiō''.^(OLD 2012) In rhetoric, making the hearer ''benevolus'' was one aim of the opening of a speech.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero uses it of a slave devoted to his master and, as a noun, for a well-wisher.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) L&S treats it as the classical word for the earlier ''benevolēns'', from which it takes its comparative and superlative.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of someone well-disposed.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses the spelling ''benivolus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of feelings, of a devoted slave and as a noun.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca defines a benefit as a ''benevola āctiō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius calls a man ''nātūrā benevolentissimus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|kind|alt=Kind]], friendly, [[m|en|benevolent]], well-disposed.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # (of feelings and actions) Kindly, friendly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (of a slave) [[m|en|devoted|alt=Devoted]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|well-wisher]], friend.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[malevolus]]

+ * [[benevolentia]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The grammarian Albinus held that ''benivolus'' should be written with ⟨i⟩, although it is compounded with the adverb ''bene''.^(TLL) The comparative ''benevolentior'' and superlative ''benevolentissimus'' are formed from [[benevolēns]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Benevolus was also a Roman surname.^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}