Goodly vs Benevolent - What's the difference?
goodly | benevolent |
(archaic) good, pleasing in appearance
* , A Ballad of Death , lines 26–27
(archaic) Quite large; considerable.
(obsolete) In a goodly way; courteously, graciously.
*:
*:Thenne he sente for the thre knyghtes & they came afore hym / and he cryed hem mercy of that he had done to them / and they forgaf hit hym goodely and he dyed anone / Whanne the kynge was dede / alle the cyte was desmayed and wyst not who myghte be her kynge
*, II.ix:
*:Goodly she entertaind those noble knights, / And brought them vp into her castle hall.
(obsolete) Excellently.
:(Spenser)
Having a disposition to do good.
Possessing or manifesting love for mankind.
altruistic, charitable, good, just and fair.
generous.
As adjectives the difference between goodly and benevolent
is that goodly is (archaic) good, pleasing in appearance while benevolent is having a disposition to do good.As an adverb goodly
is (obsolete) in a goodly way; courteously, graciously.goodly
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) goodly, goodlich, .Adjective
(er)- ''O Sin, thou knowest that all thy shame in her
- ''Was made a goodly thing
- a goodly sum of money
- walking at a goodly pace
Etymology 2
From (etyl) goodly, goodliche, .Adverb
(er)benevolent
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Chinese and Eastern mythologies describe dragons as benevolent .