Part 609

Bengal light, a firework containing niter, sulphur, and antimony, and producing a sustained and vivid colored light, used in making signals and in pyrotechnics; -- called also blue light. -- Bengal stripes, a kind of cotton cloth woven with colored stripes. See Bengal, 3. -- Bengal tiger. (Zoöl.). See Tiger.

{ Ben*gal"ee, Ben*gal"i } (&?;), n. The language spoken in Bengal.

Ben`gal*ese" (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Bengal. -- n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Bengal.

Ben*go"la (&?;), n. A Bengal light.

Be*night" (b*nt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Benighting.] 1. To involve in darkness; to shroud with the shades of night; to obscure. [Archaic]

The clouds benight the sky. Garth.

2. To overtake with night or darkness, especially before the end of a day's journey or task.

Some virgin, sure, . . . benighted in these woods. Milton.

3. To involve in moral darkness, or ignorance; to debar from intellectual light.

Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny ? Heber.

Be*night"ment (&?;), n. The condition of being benighted.

Be*nign" (&?;), a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. bénin, fem. bénigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.] 1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant.

Creator bounteous and benign. Milton.

2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild; kindly; salutary; wholesome.

Kind influences and benign aspects. South.

3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease.

Syn. -- Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary; gracious; liberal.

Be*nig"nan*cy (&?;), n. Benignant quality; kindliness.

Be*nig"nant (&?;), a. [LL. benignans, p. pr. of benignare, from L. benignus. See Benign.] Kind; gracious; favorable. -- Be*nig"nant*ly, adv.

Be*nig"ni*ty (&?;), n. [OE. benignite, F. bénignité, OF. bénigneté, fr. L. benignitas. See Benign.] 1. The quality of being benign; goodness; kindness; graciousness. "Benignity of aspect." Sir W. Scott.

2. Mildness; gentleness.

The benignity or inclemency of the season. Spectator.

3. Salubrity; wholesome quality. Wiseman.

Be*nign"ly (&?;), adv. In a benign manner.

Be*nim" (&?;), v. t. [AS. beniman. See Benumb, and cf. Nim.] To take away. [Obs.]

Ire . . . benimeth the man fro God. Chaucer.

Ben"i*son (&?;), n. [OE. beneysun, benesoun, OF. beneï&?;un, beneïson, fr. L. benedictio, fr. benedicere to bless; bene (adv. of bonus good) + dicere to say. See Bounty, and Diction, and cf. Benediction.] Blessing; beatitude; benediction. Shak.

More precious than the benison of friends. Talfourd.