Part 1049

<i>Sir W. Scott.</i>

<h1>Bene placito</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Be`ne plac"i*to</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <ety>[It. <ets>beneplacito</ets> pleasure, fr. L. <ets>bene</ets> well + <ets>placitus</ets> pleasing.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>At or during pleasure.</def>

<blockquote>For our English judges there never was . . . any <b>bene placito</b> as their tenure. <i> F. Harrison.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>At pleasure; ad libitum.</def>

<h1>Benet</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Be*net"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Benetted</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To catch in a net; to insnare.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Benevolence</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Be*nev"o*lence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>benevolence</ets>, L. <ets>benevolentia</ets>. See <er>Benevolent</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.</def>

<blockquote>The wakeful <b>benevolence</b> of the gospel. <i>Chalmers.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An act of kindness; good done; charity given.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Benevolence</er>, <er>Beneficence</er>, <er>Munificence</er>.</syn> <usage><i>Benevolence</i> marks a disposition made up of a choice and desire for the happiness of others. <i>Beneficence</i> marks the working of this disposition in dispensing good on a somewhat broad scale. <i>Munificence</i> shows the same disposition, but acting on a still broader scale, in conferring gifts and favors. These are not necessarily confined to objects of immediate utility. One may show his <i>munificence</i> in presents of pictures or jewelry, but this would not be <i>beneficence</i>. <i>Benevolence</i> of heart; <i>beneficence</i> of life; <i>munificence</i> in the encouragement of letters.</usage>

<h1>Benevolent</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Be*nev"o*lent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>benevolens</ets>, <ets>-entis</ets>; <ets>bene</ets> well (adv. of <ets>bonus</ets> good) + <ets>volens</ets>, <tt>p. pr.</tt> of <ets>volo</ets> I will, I wish. See <er>Bounty</er>, and <er>Voluntary</er>.]</ety> <def>Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable.</def> -- <wordforms><wf>Be*nev"o*lent*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt></wordforms>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Benevolent</er>, <er>Beneficent</er>.</syn> <usage> Etymologically considered, <i>benevolent</i> implies <i>wishing</i> well to others, and <i>beneficent</i>, <i>doing</i> well. But by degrees the word <i>benevolent</i> has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of <i>benevolent</i> operations, <i>benevolent</i> labors for the public good, <i>benevolent</i> societies. In like manner, <i>beneficent</i> is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the <i>beneficent</i> intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase "<i>benevolent</i> labors" turns attention to the <i>source</i> of these labors, viz., <i>benevolent</i> feeling; while <i>beneficent</i> would simply mark them as productive of good. So, "<i>beneficent</i> intentions" point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while "<i>benevolent</i> intentions" would only denote a general wish and design to do good.</usage>

<h1>Benevolous</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Be*nev"o*lous</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>benevolus</ets>.]</ety> <def>Kind; benevolent.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>T. Puller.</i>

<h1>Bengal</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Ben*gal"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A province in India, giving its name to various stuffs, animals, etc.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A thin stuff, made of silk and hair, originally brought from Bengal.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Striped gingham, originally brought from Bengal; Bengal stripes.</def>

<cs><col>Bengal light</col>, <cd>a firework containing niter, sulphur, and antimony, and producing a sustained and vivid colored light, used in making signals and in pyrotechnics; -- called also <altname>blue light</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Bengal stripes</col>, <cd>a kind of cotton cloth woven with colored stripes. See <er>Bengal</er>, 3.</cd> -- <col>Bengal tiger</col>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>. <cd>See <er>Tiger</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Bengalee, Bengali</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw><hw>Ben*gal"ee</hw>, <hw>Ben*gal"i</hw><hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The language spoken in Bengal.</def>

<h1>Bengalese</h1> <Xpage=137>