c. 1400, "disposition to do good," from Old French benivolence and directly from Latin benevolentia "good feeling, good will, kindness," from bene "well" (see bene-) + vo [..]

n. Any act of kindness or well-doing.

Tax imposed under guise of voluntary loan.    (Sayles, George O. The King's Parliament of England, 144)

Benevolence means doing a kind action to another, from mere good will, without any legal obligation; doing good or giving aid to others, rather than making profit; charitable. Since this is a moral du [..]

(n) an inclination to do kind or charitable acts(n) disposition to do good(n) an act intending or showing kindness and good will

benevolentia

A “forced” gratuity, under the excuse of a loan, exacted by some of the Plantagenet kings. First enforced in 1473, it was declared illegal by the Bill of Rights in 1689.

The state or quality of being kind, charitable, or beneficial. (from American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed). The ethical principle of BENEFICENCE requires producing net benefit [..]