1. To involve in darkness; to shroud with the shades of night; to obscure. [Archaic]
The clouds benight the sky.
Garth.
2. To overtake with night or darkness, especially before the end of a day's journey or task.
Some virgin, sure, . . . benighted in these woods.
Milton.
3. To involve in moral darkness, or ignorance; to debar from intellectual light.
Shall we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny ?
Heber.
Benightment
(Be*night"ment) n. The condition of being benighted.
Benign
(Be*nign") a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. bénin, fem. bénigne, fr. L. benignus,
contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.]
1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant.
Creator bounteous and benign.
Milton.
2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild; kindly; salutary; wholesome.
Kind influences and benign aspects.
South.
3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease.
Syn. — Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary; gracious; liberal.
Benignancy
(Be*nig"nan*cy) n. Benignant quality; kindliness.
Benignant
(Be*nig"nant) a. [LL. benignans, p. pr. of benignare, from L. benignus. See Benign.]
Kind; gracious; favorable. — Be*nig"nant*ly, adv.
Benignity
(Be*nig"ni*ty) n. [OE. benignite, F. bénignité, OF. bénigneté, fr. L. benignitas. See Benign.]
1. The quality of being benign; goodness; kindness; graciousness. "Benignity of aspect." Sir W. Scott.
2. Mildness; gentleness.
The benignity or inclemency of the season.
Spectator.
3. Salubrity; wholesome quality. Wiseman.
Benignly
(Be*nign"ly) adv. In a benign manner.
Benim
(Be*nim") v. t. [AS. beniman. See Benumb, and cf. Nim.] To take away. [Obs.]
Ire . . . benimeth the man fro God.
Chaucer.
Benison
(Ben"i*son) n. [OE. beneysun, benesoun, OF. beneïun, beneïson, fr. L. benedictio, fr. benedicere
to bless; bene (adv. of bonus good) + dicere to say. See Bounty, and Diction, and cf. Benediction.]
Blessing; beatitude; benediction. Shak.
More precious than the benison of friends.
Talfourd.
Bénitier
(||Bé*ni"tier`) n. [F., fr. bénir to bless.] (R. C. Ch.) A holy-water stoup. Shipley.
