benign
[ bih-nahyn ]
/ bɪˈnaɪn /
adjective
having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king.
showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness: a benign smile.
favorable; propitious: a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.
(of weather) salubrious; healthful; pleasant or beneficial.
Pathology.
not malignant; self-limiting.
Origin of benign
1275–1325; Middle English
benigne < Anglo-French, Old French
benigne (feminine),
benin (masculine) < Latin
benignus kind, generous, equivalent to
beni-, combining form of
bonus good (see
bene-) +
-gnus, derivative of the base of
gignere to beget (see
genitor,
genus), hence, perhaps, “good by nature”; cf.
malign
SYNONYMS FOR benign
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British Dictionary definitions for benign
benign
/ (bɪˈnaɪn) /
adjective
showing kindliness; genial
(of soil, climate, etc) mild; gentle
favourable; propitious
pathol
(of a tumour, etc) not threatening to life or health; not malignant
Derived forms of benign
benignly, adverbWord Origin for benign
C14: from Old French
benigne, from Latin
benignus, from
bene well +
gignere to produce
Medical definitions for benign
benign
[ bĭ-nīn′ ]
adj.
Of no danger to health, especially relating to a tumorous growth; not malignant.
Scientific definitions for benign
benign
[ bĭ-nīn′ ]
Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant. Compare malignant.
Cultural definitions for benign
benign
[ (bi-neyen) ]
A descriptive term for conditions that present no danger to life or well-being. Benign is the opposite of malignant.
notes for benign
The term
benign is used when describing
tumors or growths that do not threaten the health of an individual.