Benign
/bɪˈnaɪn/noun
Gentle and kindly; not harmful in effect.
Did you know?The term 'benign' comes from Latin roots that originally described something favorable and nurturing, often associated with divine protection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰen-
“to be favored, to be good”
Latin
Latin
benignus
“kind, well-disposed, favorable”
Old French
Old French
benin
“kind, gentle, benign”
Middle English
Middle English
benigne
“gentle, kind, mild”
Modern English
English
benign
“gentle and kindly; not harmful”
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