BENIGN

benign, benignant

(adjective) pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence; “a benign smile”; “the benign sky”; “the benign influence of pure air”

benign

(adjective) kindness of disposition or manner; “the benign ruler of millions”; “benign intentions”

benign

(adjective) not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

benign (comparative benigner or more benign, superlative benignest or most benign)

Kind; gentle; mild.

(of a climate or environment) mild and favorable

(in combination) Not harmful to the environment.

(medicine) Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.

Synonyms

• (medicine): non-malignant

Antonyms

• malign

• malignant

Source: Wiktionary


Be*nign", a. Etym: [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. bénin, fem. bénigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.]

1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant. Creator bounteous and benign. Milton.

2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild; kindly; salutary; wholesome. Kind influences and benign aspects. South.

3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease.

Syn.

– Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary; gracious; liberal.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 December 2024

QUANDONG

(noun) Australian tree having hard white timber and glossy green leaves with white flowers followed by one-seeded glossy blue fruit


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee starts as a yellow berry, changes into a red berry, and then is picked by hand to harvest. The red berry is de-shelled through a water soaking process and what’s left inside is the green coffee bean. This bean then dries in the sun for 3-5 days, where it is then packed and ready for sale.

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