a. Forms: 4–6 benygn(e, -yngne, -yng(e, -ing, 4–7 benigne, -ingne, 7– benign. [a. OF. benigne, benin:—L. benignus ‘kindly,’ prob. for benigenus, f. bene well + -genus born, of kind. Cf. malignus, prīvignus; for the sense L. gentīlis, F. gentil, Eng. gentle; also, Eng. kind, kindly, L. generōsus, Gr. γενναῖος.]
1. Of a kind disposition, gracious, kindly.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 1103. Ȝe weten weyl how benygne my dere sone was.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 353. Charity is benyngne.
1422. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 30, I. 96. That it please your … Grace of your benigne pitee and grace, to releve and refresh your said pouere Oratour.
c. 1550. Scot. Poems 16th C., II. 130. Hee is fair, sober and bening, Sweet, meek, and gentle in all thing.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. xiv. § 4. It’s he alone, euen he, the God beningne, That vs instructs, in euery blessed thing.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Dr. Exile, Poems I. 7. As well As the benignest angel of you all.
† b. Gentle, meek, humble. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 7. Þe blosmes both boxome speche and benygne lokynge.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerkes T., 287. Thise arn the wordes that the markis sayde To this benigne, verray, feithful mayde.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xci. 419. All men and women … that are lowe, ande meke, ande benigne.
2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindly feeling in look, gesture or action; bland, gentle, mild.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1753. Benyng he was to eche in general.
1493. Petronylla (Pynson), 5. Benygne of porte, humble of face and chere.
1542. Hen. VIII., Decl., 193. We … gaue … benigne and gentyl audience to suche Ambassadours, as repayred hither.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. III. 880. Benigne & not blustrous Against a vanquisht Foe.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), II. XIII. 114. Requesens indeed had a more benign and placid countenance than Alva.
1871. Blackie, Four Phases, i. 58. That when a thief takes your cloak you should thank him, like a benign Quaker, for his kindness.
3. transf. Of things: Favorable, kind, fortunate, salutary, propitious; esp. in Astrol. opposed to malign, malignant, etc.
a. 1614. Donne, Βιαθανατος, 32. Those reasons which are most Benigne … ought to have the best acceptation.
1667. Waterhouse, Fire Lond., 34. By concurrence of circumstances, benign to, and corresponding with a vastative event.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 538. So shall the World goe on, To good malignant, to bad men benigne.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. XII. 262. The Government of these benign Stars was very short.
1743. Fielding, J. Wild, III. x. His affairs began to wear a more benign aspect.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, xvi. 169. On whose birth benign planets have certainly smiled.
4. Of weather, soil, climate, etc.: Mild, salubrious, genial, kindly.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqrs. T., 44. fful lusty was the weder and benigne.
1508. Dunbar, Thistle & Rose, 32. Thy air it is nocht holsum nor benyng.
1665. G. Havers, P. Della Valle’s Trav. E. Ind., 86. The Air becomes more healthful, sweet, and more benigne both to sound and infirm.
1772. Pennant, Tours Scot. (1774), 306. He sows his seed, and sees it flourish beneath a benign sun.
1868. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 209. The climate is benign, even in low marshy neighbourhoods.
5. Med. † a. Of medicines: Gentle or mild in operation. Of food: Easily digested. Obs.
1651. trans. Bacon’s Life & Death, 23. Celsus adviseth Interchanging, and Alternation of the Diet, but still with an Inclination to the more Benigne.
1652. French, Yorksh. Spa, vi. 64. More benigne purgatives.
1731. Arbuthnot, Aliments, 77 (J.). These Salts are of a benign mild Nature in healthy Persons who have a vital Force to subdue all the sapid Substances which they feed upon.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, II. ix. § 3 (1734), 208. Aromatick Medicines … increase their benign, and … hinder their destructive Effects.
b. Of diseases: Of a mild type; not malignant.
1743. trans. Heister’s Surg., 207. There is little or no difference between them [certain virulent tumours] and the benign sort.
1876. trans. Wagner’s Gen. Pathol., 13. Benign Diseases are those in which the appreciable group of phenomena indicates a surely favorable issue.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 549. Benign tumours are of slow growth.
6. quasi-adv. = BENIGNLY.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 374. Beseikand thame rycht hartlie and benyng, For to ressaue than as thair prince and king This Alpynus.
a. 1725. Pope, Odyss., XIII. 63. His words well weigh’d, the general voice approved Benign.
