benign
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
benign (comparative benigner or more benign, superlative benignest or most benign)
- Kind; gentle; mild.
- 1826, Mary Shelley, The Last Man, part 1, chapter 9
- But though we both entertained these ideas, we differed in their application. Resentment added also a sting to my censure; and I reprobated Raymond's conduct in severe terms. Adrian was more benign, more considerate.
- 1826, Mary Shelley, The Last Man, part 1, chapter 9
- (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
- (in combination) Not harmful to the environment.
- an ozone-benign refrigerant
- (medicine) Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.
- a benign tumor
Synonyms[edit]
- (medicine): non-malignant
Antonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Terms derived from benign
Translations[edit]
kind, gentle, mild
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(medicine) not posing any serious threat to health
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
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- en:Medicine