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Definition of benevolence : 1. A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity.
2. An act of kindness; good done; charity given.
3. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.

Synonyms:

bounty, favor, sympathy, give, office, almsgiving, humanity, grace, kindheartedness, oblation, benignancy, benefaction, kind, kind-heartedness, kindliness, attitude

beneficence, philanthropy, generosity, motherliness, good will, humanitarianism, unselfishness, munificence, magnanimity, neighborliness, altruism, bountifulness, compassion

gentleness, open-mindedness, evenness, benignity, libertarianism, acceptance, insipidity, moderateness, peaceableness, kindness, mildness, quietness, lenience, latitude, liberty, clemency, laxity, liberality, tolerance, permissiveness, amiability, geniality, broad-mindedness, liberalness, moderation, sweetness, easiness, charity, tenderness, softness, forbearance, meekness, cordiality

public spirit

goodwill, greatness, bigness, largess, greatheartedness, freeness, charitableness, hospitality, graciousness, hospitableness

Usage examples:

• Hadn't she possibly, from motives of the highest benevolence, promptings of the finest anxiety, just given poor Susie what she would have called the straight tip? - "The Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2", Henry James.
• Benevolence, which is the legal remedy for social crime, favours social crime. - "Selected Essays", Karl Marx.
• This cheered the poor, disconsolate fellow, who soon went with Mr. Mills to Torringford, and was placed under the " care of those whose benevolence was without a bond or check, or a limit to confine it." - "A Story of One Short Life, 1783 to 1818 [Samuel John Mills]", Elisabeth G. Stryker.