Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The quality or state of being kindly.
  • noun A kindly deed.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The quality of being kindly; inclination to be kind; natural affection; benevolence.
  • noun Synonyms Benignity, humanity, sympathy, kind-heartedness, fellow-feeling.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete Natural inclination; natural course.
  • noun The quality or state of being kindly; benignity; benevolence; gentleness; tenderness.
  • noun Softness; mildness; propitiousness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of feeling kindly towards someone or something, or the actions inspired thereby.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

kindly +‎ -ness

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Examples

  • It is this attraction which we call kindliness, or love -- a sentiment inseparable from grace and beauty.

    Aesthetical Essays of Frederich Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller 1782

  • It is this attraction which we call kindliness, or love -- a sentiment inseparable from grace and beauty.

    The Works of Frederich Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller 1782

  • Leacock said that human kindliness is an essential element of humour.

    our 2005

  • Had he been a little older he would have understood that it was the lad's good qualities which appealed to him — his coolness and self-reliance, his manliness and bravery, and a certain kindliness and sympathy in his nature.

    The Cruise of the "Dazzler" 1902

  • Had he been a little older he would have understood that it was the lad's good qualities which appealed to him — his coolness and self-reliance, his manliness and bravery, and a certain kindliness and sympathy in his nature.

    Chapter X 1902

  • You yourself, Derrick, must have observed a certain kindliness and – and open generosity, with a wistful sound in his voice.

    That Lass o' Lowrie's: A Lancashire Story 1877

  • They insisted that he was flattering the pride so inherent in heresy, that he was lulling the people to sleep in their errors by sewing pillows to their elbows; that it was better to correct them in mercy and justice than to pour on their heads the oil of wheedling, as they called the kindliness of our Saint.

    The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales Jean Pierre Camus 1618

  • "Nay," old Ebbits interposed in kindliness, "the white man's is not

    THE WHITE MAN'S WAY 2010

  • "Nay," old Ebbits interposed in kindliness, "the white man's is not a lying people.

    The White Man's Way 2010

  • "Nay," old Ebbits interposed in kindliness, "the white man's is not

    The White Man's Way 1907

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