- benign
- early 14c., from O.Fr. benigne (12c., "kind, benign, merciful, gracious;" Mod.Fr. bénin, fem. bénigne), from L. benignus "kindly, kindhearted, friendly, generous," lit. "well born," from bene "well" (see bene-) + gignere "to bear, beget," from genus "birth" (see genus). For similar sense evolution, cf. gentle, kind (adj.), generous.