# lovingkindness
## English
### Etymology

From loving +‎ kindness. The word arises in the King James Version of the Bible as a translation of Hebrew חסד (ḥeseḏ, “grace, kindness, love; chesed”).

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /lʌ.vɪŋˈkʌɪnd.nɪs/, /-nəs/
* (General American) IPA: /ˌlə.vɪŋˈkaɪn(d).nɪs/
* Audio (General Australian):(file)
* Hyphenation: lov‧ing‧kind‧ness

### Noun

lovingkindness (countable and uncountable, plural lovingkindnesses)
* (uncountable) Kindness or mercy which is based on, or arises from, love; (countable) an act of such kindness or mercy.
** 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 9:24:But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that hee vnderſtandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exerciſe louing kindneſſe, iudgement, and righteouſneſſe in the earth: for in these things I delight, ſaith the Lord.
** 1643, Jer. Burroughes [i.e., Jeremiah Burroughs], “The Nineteenth Lecture: Hosea 2. 20, 21, 22, 23.”, in An Exposition of the Prophecie of Hosea. Begun in Divers Lectures upon the First Three Chapters, at Michaels Cornhill, London, London: Printed by W. E. and J. G. for R. Dawlman, →OCLC, page 651:[…] My loving kindneſſe, my mercifull diſposition is a great bond, but my faithfulneſſe ſhall binde me also, I will be content to ingage my ſelfe to you, to ingage all that I am, and all that I have to you, that you may certainly confide in me, ſo as you may not onely expect it from my love, but challenge it from my faithfulneſſe.
** 1736 April 2, George Whitefield, “Letter XI. To the Same [Mr. H.]”, in The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Late of Pembroke-College, Oxford, and Chaplain to the Rt. Hon. the Countess of Huntingdon. Containing All His Sermons and Tracts which have already been Published: With a Select Collection of Letters, Written to His Most Intimate Friends, and Persons of Distinction, in England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, from the Year 1734, to 1770, including the Whole Period of His Ministry. Also Some Other Pieces on Important Subjects, never before Printed; Prepared by Himself for the Press. To which is Prefixed, an Account of His Life, Compiled from His Original Papers and Letters, London: Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly, in the Poultry; Edinburgh: Messrs. Kincaid and Bell, published 1771, →OCLC, page 13:What a comfort is it for chriſtian friends to relate to each other the loving-kindneſs of the Lord? O let his praiſes be ever in our mouths, that we may be telling of his ſalvation from day to day.
** 1867, [Charles Seymour Robinson], “Loving-kindness”, in Songs for the Sanctuary: Or, Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship, New York, N.Y.: A. S. Barnes & Co., 111 & 113 William Street, (Corner of John Street.), →OCLC, page 238:Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, / And sing the great Redeemer's praise; / He justly claims a song from me: / His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
** 1867, C[harles] H[addon] Spurgeon, “Oct. 17. ‘And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.’ — 1 Samuel xxvii. 1.”, in Morning by Morning; or, Daily Readings for the Family or the Closet, New York, N.Y.: Sheldon and Company, 498 and 500 Broadway, →OCLC, page 291:Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father's goodness? Have not His loving-kindnesses been marvellous? Has he once failed to justify our trust? Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time.
** 1997, Sharon Salzberg, “Mercy”, in Kathleen Hughes, Joseph A. Favazza, editors, A Reconciliation Sourcebook (The Sourcebook Series), Chicago, Ill.: Liturgy Training Publications, →ISBN, page 141:In just the same way, the force of metta, lovingkindness, allows us to cohere, to come together within ourselves and with all beings. The beauty of this truth moved the Buddha to say that sustaining a loving heart, even for the duration of the snap of a finger, makes one a truly spiritual being.
** 2012, James Hastings, “Seaside Lodgings”, in The Book of Acts: Children’s Great Bible Texts, [s.l.]: Jazzybee Verlag, →ISBN:When we look at the grains of sand – countless in number – they speak to us of the multitude of God's lovingkindnesses to us.
** 2014, Michael J. Cavallaro, “Finishing Core Meditation with Lovingkindness”, in Ten Minutes to Deep Meditation: Techniques that Reduce Stress and Relieve Anger, Anxiety & Depression, Ocala, Fla.: Atlantic Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 161:After you have spent your second week of meditation on developing mindfulness, your third week of meditation will involve developing lovingkindness. Lovingkindness Meditation, which is the third core practice, focuses bringing love, compassion, sympathy, and joy into your life.

#### Alternative forms

* loving kindness
* loving-kindness

#### Translations
### See also

* metta