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Today's "benevolent," meaning "kind and helpful," is one of those easy words that most of us already know. It's worth thinking about, though, because we may be able to put it to use more often.
Its exact opposite is "malevolent," but another close opposite is "mal______:" a dramatic word for "evil, or hurtful to others on purpose."
make your point with...
"BENEVOLENT"
"Benevolent" is Latin for "well-wishing." So, benevolent people or things are actively kind and helpful toward other people.
Pronunciation:
bin EV uh lunt
Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "a benevolent smile."
2. After a linking verb, as in "His smile was benevolent.")
Other forms:
benevolently, benevolence
How to use it:
This is usually a word for people and the things they say and do. Talk about benevolent people and personalities, benevolent groups and societies and governments, benevolent words and gestures, benevolent actions and deeds, benevolent intentions and feelings, and so on.
You can be figurative and talk about benevolent concepts, ideas, and things in nature, like a benevolent religion or philosophy, or the benevolent wind that brings relief on a hot day.
examples:
The teacher's reputation as a slave-driver was undeserved. To us, she was benevolent, even motherly.
If you believe that a certain group of people are inferior and therefore deserve protection and help, it's considered benevolent racism, or benevolent sexism, and so on. (These phrases seem like oxymorons to me.)
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "benevolent" means when you can explain it without saying "generous" or "having kind intentions."
try it out:
Think of a rule that people should follow for their own good, and fill in the blanks: "(A particular rule) does have a benevolent purpose: to _____."
Example: "The school's insistence that kids keep up a daily assignment log does have a benevolent purpose: to teach organization and responsibility."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
When it comes to word roots, everybody knows what some of them mean, like “ambi/amphi” (“both”) and “circum” (“around”) and “hetero” (“different”). This knowledge helps you explain why words like “automobile” and “autobiography” look similar—in this case, it’s because they both involve the concept of “self.” But what about some of the less obvious roots? Could you explain, for example, why “contain” looks so much like “sustain” by defining “tain”? This month, we're exploring the meanings underlying common words you know. You can usually figure these out by looking for an extremely basic concept common to all the words in each group. We’ll start with easier, more obvious roots and move on to trickier ones as the month goes on!
Yesterday's question: In aver, veracity, verify, and very, what does “ver” mean?
Answer: True.
Try this one today: In abstract, attract, detract, retract, subtract, tractor, and traction, what does “tract” mean?
review today's word:
1. One opposite of BENEVOLENT is
A. COLD
B. CRUEL
C. CLOSED
2. Her immediate response to the mess they'd made was a benevolent _____.
A. sigh
B. shrug
C. chuckle
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. B
2. C
Today's "benevolent," meaning "kind and helpful," is one of those easy words that most of us already know. It's worth thinking about, though, because we may be able to put it to use more often.
"BENEVOLENT" "Benevolent" is Latin for "well-wishing." So, benevolent people or things are actively kind and helpful toward other people. Pronunciation: Part of speech: How to use it:
The teacher's reputation as a slave-driver was undeserved. To us, she was benevolent, even motherly.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "benevolent" means when you can explain it without saying "generous" or "having kind intentions."
Think of a rule that people should follow for their own good, and fill in the blanks: "(A particular rule) does have a benevolent purpose: to _____."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. One opposite of BENEVOLENT is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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