benignity

B3E1N1I1G2N1I1T1Y4
/bəˈnɪɡnəti/

noun

The state of being benign.

RareScrabble 15

Meanings

nounbenignity (countable and uncountable, plural benignities)

plural benignities

  1. uncountableThe state of being benign.

    […] and presented her, with pride not less than pleasure, to their noble visitant, who, although surprised by the youthfulness of her countenance (rendered the more striking from her late illness), thought that its gentle benignity augured well for his future hopes, […]

    1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter L, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 19
    1 more example

    [W]e muſt not take this mercifull indulgence given to our defectuoſities, as a diſpenſation for the ſordidnes of our loves, but rather in a holy effect and contention of gratitude, ſtrain to love God the more purely, and irreſpectively to our ſelves, in regard of the tranſcendent benignity of this diſpenſation.

    1648, Walter Montagu, “The Fourteenth Treatise. The Test and Ballance of Filial and Mercenary Love. §. II. Mercenary Love Defined, and the Relying Much on It Disswaded.”, in Miscellanea Spiritualia: Or, Devout Essaies, London: […] W[illiam] Lee, D[aniel] Pakeman, and G[abriel] Bedell, […], →OCLC, page 186
  2. countableA benign act.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite

nounthe quality of being kind and gentle

Opposite

nouna kind act

Similar
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinbenignitās
  2. Middle Frenchbenignité
  3. Middle Englishbenignite
  4. Englishbenignity

From Middle English benignite, from Middle French benignité (modern French bénignité), from Latin benignitās. By surface analysis, benign + -ity.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French bénignité
  • bénignitéstate of being benign
Cite this entry
APA

benignity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/benignity

MLA

“benignity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/benignity. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “benignity,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/benignity.

Source: benignity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.