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benign
- Main Entry:
- be·nign

- Pronunciation:
-
\bi-ˈnīn\
- Function:
- adjective
- Etymology:
- Middle English benigne, from Anglo-French, from Latin benignus, from bene + gignere to beget — more at kin
- Date:
- 14th century
1: of a gentle disposition : gracious <a benign teacher>2 a: showing kindness and gentleness <benign faces> b: favorable, wholesome <a benign climate>3 a: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life; especially : not becoming cancerous <a benign lung tumor> b: having no significant effect : harmless <environmentally benign>
— be·nig·ni·ty \-ˈnig-nə-tē\ noun
— be·nign·ly \-ˈnīn-lē\ adverb
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