Benign

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Middle English: from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, probably from bene ‘well’ + -genus ‘-born’. Compare with gentle1.

wiktionary

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From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus(“kind, good”), from bene(“well”) + genus(“origin, kind”). Compare malign.

etymonline

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benign (adj.)

early 14c., from Old French benigne "kind, benign, merciful, gracious" (12c., 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" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget"). For similar sense evolution, compare gentle, kind (adj.), generous. Related: Benignly.