benevolence

noun

Etymology: Circa 1400, original sense “good will, disposition to do good”, Old French benivolence from Latin benevolentia (also directly from Latin), literally “good will”, from bene (“well, good”) + volentia, form of volēns, form of volō (“to wish”), components cognate to English benefit and voluntary, more distantly will (via Proto-Indo-European).

1. Disposition to do good.

   “gesture of benevolence”

   “show benevolence”

2. Charitable kindness.

   “His acts of benevolence earned him great respect.”

3. An altruistic gift or act.
4. A kind of forced loan or contribution levied by kings without legal authority, first so called under Edward IV in 1473.