/ bɪˈnaɪn; NAmE / adjective
1.
( formal ) ( of people ) kind and gentle; not hurting anybody
2.
( medical ) ( of tumours growing in the body ) not dangerous or likely to cause death
OPP malignant
► be·nign·ly adverb :
He smiled benignly.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French benigne , from Latin benignus , probably from bene well + -genus -born. Compare with gentle .