Benevolence is an act of kindness or an inclination to be kind. It's the quality of someone who volunteers in a soup kitchen, tutors children for free, and helps old ladies cross the street.
- Pronunciation: / bə'nɛvələns/
- English description: an act intending or showing kindness and good will
- Synonyms: benefaction
- Chinese Translation: 善行(shan4 xing2)
- Spanish Translation: la benevolencia
- ORIGIN: Helping your grandmother with her groceries is an act of benevolence — as long as she doesn’t pay you a dollar per bag. Letting your little sister have the last helping of ice cream shows benevolence. Benevolence is any kind act, but it can also describe the desire to do nice things. When you’re feeling selfish, you probably won’t show benevolence, but if benevolence comes through in spite of your crankiness, then you know you’re really a good person.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
- That may be a worthwhile venture, but at some point, the connection between profit and benevolence becomes strained.
- There is no greater tool in constantly shaping and reinforcing the association of whiteness and white people with integrity, benevolence and superiority.
*New word description, story and part of "EXAMPLE SENTENCE" are cited in Vocabulary
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