Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: benigne, from Latin benignus, from bene 'well' + gigni 'to be born'

benign

 adjective
     
Related topics: Illness and Disability
be‧nign
1 kind and gentle:
He shook his head in benign amusement.
2MI a benign tumour (=unnatural growth in the body) is not caused by cancer [≠ malignant]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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