Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Benignite(e, n. Also: benygntte, benignitie; beningnitie, benyngnyte. [ME. benignité (Chaucer), benygnyté, -eté, etc., OF. benignité, L. benignitas.]Benignity, kindness, graciousness.c1420 Wynt. v. 895 (for his gret benygnyte). Ib. viii. 776 (lettrys off benyngnyte). 1456 Hay II. 76/19 (with clemence, benignitee, and suetenes). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/3 (all maner of sueitnes and benignite). c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 27 (the bab full of benignite). 1567 G. Ball. 93 (thy gudnes and beningnitie). a1578 Pitsc. I. 110/25 (prayand the king of his benignitie to spair thame).