benignant adj 1: pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence; "a benign smile"; "the benign sky"; "the benign influence of pure air" [syn: {benign}, {benignant}] [ant: {malign}] 2: characterized by kindness and warm courtesy especially of a king to his subjects; "our benignant king" [syn: {benignant}, {gracious}]
Benignant \Be*nig"nant\, a. [LL. benignans, p. pr. of benignare, from L. benignus. See {Benign}.] Kind; gracious; favorable. -- {Be*nig"nant*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster]