Plural of benevolence; acts of kindness, generosity, or goodwill toward others, or charitable donations.
From Latin benevolentia, combining bene (well) and volens (willing). The term evolved in Middle English to describe both the feeling of goodwill and the concrete acts or gifts resulting from that feeling.
Medieval English kings actually demanded 'benevolences' from wealthy subjects—which were technically supposed to be voluntary gifts but totally weren't, making it one of history's most ironic uses of the word 'benevolence.'
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