benign

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“
There are no known causes for growth of skin tags but is referred to as a benign growth which is often described as bits of flesh or skin tissue that protrudes from the surrounding skin.

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Definitions (14)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (5)

  1. adjective Of a kind and gentle disposition.
  2. adjective Showing gentleness and mildness. See Synonyms at kind1.
  3. adjective Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable: a policy with benign consequences for the economy. See Synonyms at favorable.
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Examples (50)

  • Secondly, as to the execution of well-doing; and to this belongs benignity, for the benign are those in whom the salutary flame (_bonus ignis_) of love has enkindled the desire to be kind to their neighbor. —  Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) From the Complete American Edition
  • The tumor was benign, and we soon had Leon back.
  • Malign or benign, these are the Big Men of Africa, men with a presence and stature. —  Mia Farrow
  • American hegemony has been benign, and the alternatives to it are infinitely worse. —  U.S. News
  • But * Chrichton* generated fear and tension by making the * villan* in his tale benign -- —  Wired Top Stories
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

benevolent ·  gracious ·  mild ·  serene ·  malignant ·  benignant ·  bland ·  tolerant ·  affable ·  harmless ·  beneficial ·  favorable
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English benigne, from Old French, from Latin benignus; see genə- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English benigne, from Old French benigne, benin, French bénin = Spanish Portuguese Italian benigno, from Latin benignus, kind, from benus, old form of bonus, good, + -genus, born, from gignere, Old Latin genere, beget: see -genous, etc. Cf. malign.
 

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/bəˈnaɪn/
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