early 14c., from Old French benigne (12c., "kind, benign, merciful, gracious;" Modern French bénin, fem. bénigne), from Latin benignus "kindly, kindhearted, friendly, generous," literally "well born," from bene "well" (see bene-) + gignere "to bear, beget," from genus "birth" (see genus). For similar sense evolution, compare gentle, kind (adj.), generous. Related: Benignly.
例文
1. We 're taking relatively benign medicines and we 're turning them into poisons.
私たちが服用している薬は比較的薬性が穏やかですが、私たちはそれらを毒に変えています。
2.This plunge came in a time of relatively benign economic conditions.