benevolence

benevolence
   obsolete
   an arbitrary tax
   Literally, generosity. English monarchs extracted such taxation from their rich subjects under the guise of loans which were described as benevolences but never repaid. The 1689 Bill of Rights brought this method of taxation to an end, until revived in the Second World War with a tax called the Post-War Credit, which was eventually repaid in a depreciated currency without interest.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • bénévolence — ⇒BÉNÉVOLENCE, subst. fém. Vx ou littér., rare. [En parlant d une pers., de son comportement avec autrui] Disposition à être aimable et bienveillant. Taper sur l épaule avec bénévolence (QUENEAU, Zazie dans le métro, 1959, p. 119). Synon.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Benevolence — Be*nev o*lence, n. [OF. benevolence, L. benevolentia. See {Benevolent}.] 1. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness. [1913 Webster] The wakeful benevolence of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Benevolence — is the expression of kindness and altruism. In his book Unrugged Individualism , Objectivist author David Kelley defines it as a commitment to achieving the values derivable from life with other people in society, by treating them as potential… …   Wikipedia

  • benevolence — Benevolence, Acquerir petit à petit la benevolence d aucun, Colligere beneuolentiam alicuius. Tascher à acquester la benevolence d aucun, Consectari alicuius beneuolentiam largitione …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Benevolence — (engl., spr. Binewwolens), freiwillige Steuer, vom König Eduard IV. von England eingeführt, von Heinrich VII. beibehalten …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • benevolence — I (act of kindness) noun assistance, benefaction, beneficence, benevolentia, boon, charitable effort, charity, favor, good deed, good treatment, good turn, helpfulness, kind office, kind treatment, philanthropy, relief, service, succor, support… …   Law dictionary

  • benevolence — (n.) c.1400, disposition to do good, from O.Fr. benivolence and directly from L. benevolentia good feeling, good will, kindness, from bene well (see BENE (Cf. bene )) + volantem (nom. volens) prp. of velle to wish (see WILL (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • benevolence — [n] charity altruism, amity, comity, compassion, feeling, friendliness, friendship, generosity, gift, goodness, good will, humanity, kindheartedness, kindness, sympathy; concept 633 Ant. animosity, greediness, ill will, malevolence, meanness,… …   New thesaurus

  • benevolence — [bə nev′ə ləns] n. [ME & OFr < L benevolentia: see BENEVOLENT] 1. an inclination to do good; kindliness 2. a kindly, charitable act or gift; beneficence 3. a forced loan formerly levied by some English kings on their subjects …   English World dictionary

  • Benevolence — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Benevolence >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 benevolence benevolence Christian charity Sgm: N 1 God s love God s love God s grace Sgm: N 1 good will good will Sgm: N 1 philanthropy philanthropy &c. 910 Sgm: N …   English dictionary for students

  • benevolence — /beuh nev euh leuhns/, n. 1. desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness: to be filled with benevolence toward one s fellow creatures. 2. an act of kindness; a charitable gift. 3. Eng. Hist. a forced contribution to the sovereign. [1350 …   Universalium

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