English
benevolent
Benevolent comes from Latin benevolēns, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ‘to choose’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*welh₁-‘to choose’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEbenevolēns
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400benevolent
- Englishearliest quotation 1641same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*welh₁-‘to choose’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEbenevolēns
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400benevolent
- Englishearliest quotation 1641same form
Earliest quotation: 1641, or 1642, Richard Brome: “Benevolence? vvhich ſhall I be benevolent to; or vvhich…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- ‘to choose’
will, well, volunteer, volition, wale, voluptuous, malevolent, malevolence, 11 more
Today it means
adj Having a disposition to do good.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- / benevolent