be・nef・i・cence /bnfsns, -ss ｜ -f-/ n. 1 善行 (maleficence). 2 恩恵, 慈善 (charity); 施し物 (gift). 《c1454》 (O)F bnficence L beneficentia active kindness ← beneficus: ⇒benefic, -ence

be・nef・i・cent /bnfsnt, -st ｜ -f-/ adj. (maleficent) 1 〈人が〉恩恵を施す, 慈善心に富む, 奇特な; 〔…に〕慈悲深い 〔to〕 (⇒philanthropic SYN). ・be beneficent to the poor 貧乏人に慈悲深い. ・exert a beneficent influence on… …に恩沢を及ぼす. 2 〈物・事が〉有益な; 〔…の〕ためになる 〔to〕. ・beneficent birds, bacteria, knowledge, etc. 〜・ly adv. 《1616》 L beneficentem (pres.p.) ← benefacere to do good (⇒benefaction) ← BENEFIC(ENCE)＋-ENT