# benigne
## English
### Adjective

benigne (comparative more benigne, superlative most benigne)
* Obsolete spelling of benign..
** 1566, William Adlington, The Golden Asse‎:And further I imagined and sayd, Alasse what Judge is he that is so gentle or benigne, that will thinke that I am unguilty of the slaughter and murther of these three men.
** 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:even th’Almightie selfe she did maligne, / Because to man so mercifull he was, / And unto all his creatures so benigne, / Sith she her selfe was of his grace indigne […]
** 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras‎, London: Canto 3, page 107:The antient Heroes were illustrious For being benigne, and not blustrous, Against a vanquisht foe:

## Dutch
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

benigne (not comparable)
* (medicine) benign
    Synonym: goedaardig
    Antonym: maligne

#### Declension
## German
### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin benignus.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [beˈnɪɡnə]
* Hyphenation: be‧ni‧gne
* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

benigne (strong nominative masculine singular benigner, not comparable)
* benign

#### Declension
## Interlingua
### Adjective

benigne (comparative plus benigne, superlative le plus benigne)
* benign

## Italian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /beˈniɲ.ɲe/
* Rhymes: -iɲɲe
* Hyphenation: be‧nì‧gne

### Adjective

benigne
* feminine plural of benigno

## Latin
### Etymology

From benignus (“benevolent”) +‎ -ē.

### Pronunciation

* (Classical Latin) IPA: /beˈniɡ.neː/, [bɛˈnɪŋneː]
* (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA: /beˈniɲ.ɲe/, [beˈniɲːe]

### Adverb

benignē (comparative benignius, superlative benignissimē)
* benignly, kindly, benevolently
    Synonym: benevolē
* (as a response) thank you, you are very kind (in receiving); no, thank you (in declining)

#### Related terms

* benignitās
* benigniter
* benignor
* benignus
* perbenīgnē

### References

* “benigne”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
* “benigne”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
* benigne in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.

## Middle English
### Alternative forms

* beningne, benygne, benyng, benynge, benyngne

### Etymology

Borrowed from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus; compare maligne.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /bɛˈniːn(ə)/, /bɛˈni(n)ɡn(ə)/

### Adjective

benigne
* kind, gentle, mild
** 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 8, recto, lines 482-484:his pariſſhens / deuoutly wolde he teche / Benygne he was / and wonder diligent / And in aduerſitee / ful pacient […]He would devoutly teach his parishioners; / he was gentle, truly diligent, / and so patient in adversity […]
* friendly-looking
* humane, fair (of laws or actions)

#### Related terms

* benignely
* benignite

#### Descendants

* English: benign
* Scots: bening (obsolete)

#### References

* “benīgne, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.