benign

Where does the word "benign" come from? It comes from Latin benignus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Benign’s story begins in Latin: benignus meant “kindly.” 'bene', well, plus 'genus', born. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as benigne. Old French 'benigne' meant kind, merciful and gracious; English borrowed it in the early 1300s. It reached English by 1300s as benign. Medical 'benign' tumours date from the 1800s. Today, benign means gentle and kind; not harmful.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient benignus "kindly", 'bene', well, plus 'genus', born.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval benigne "kind", Old French 'benigne' meant kind, merciful and gracious; English borrowed it in the early 1300s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s benign "kind", medical 'benign' tumours date from the 1800s.