bĕnignĭtas (noun F) : benignus
* The quality of one benignus, an affable, kind bearing to others.
* Of feeling or external conduct, kindness, friendliness, courtesy, benevolence, benignity: si ad vortendum huc animum adest benignitas,Plaut. Merc. prol. 11: justitia, cui sunt adjunctae pietas, bonitas, liberalitas, benignitas, comitas, quaeque sunt generis ejusdem,Cic. Fin. 5, 23, 65: etsi me attentissimis animis summā cum benignitate auditis,id. Sest. 13, 31; id. Caecin. 3, 9; id. Dom. 14, 32; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 83, § 191; id. Rosc. Com. 12, 33: benignitas animi,Tac. H. 2, 30; Dig. 48, 19, 11; 1, 3, 25.
* Of deeds, kindness, liberality, bounty, favor: num solus ille dona dat? nunc ubi meam Benignitatem sensisti in te claudier?Ter. Eun. 1, 2, 84 (intellegit se et dona obtulisse, et id benigne saepe fecisse, Don.); Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 80: illa quanta benignitas naturae, quod tam multa ad vescendum, tam varia, tamque jucunda gignit,Cic. N. D. 2, 53, 131: largitio, quae fit ex re familiari, fontem ipsum benignitatis exhaurit. Ita benignitate benignitas tollitur,id. Off. 2, 15, 52; 2, 15, 54: ne benignitas major esset quam facultates,id. ib. 1, 14, 44: amicorum benignitas exhausta est in eā re,id. Att. 4, 2, 7: (Volumnius) benignitatem per se gratam comitate adjuvabat,Liv. 9, 42, 5: satis superque me benignitas tua Ditavit, *Hor. Epod. 1, 31; August. ap. Suet. Aug. 71: benignitate deūm fractae hostium vires,Tac. H. 4, 85; id. A. 14, 6.— In plur.: vides, benignitates hominum ut periere,Plaut. Stich. 4, 2, 54.
* Lenity, mercy: severitas legum cum aliquo temperamento benignitatis,Dig. 48, 19, 11 pr.; 1, 3, 25.

s. TLL