Lewis & Short

bĕnĕvŏlentĭa (better than bĕnĭvŏ-lentĭa), ae, f. [benevolus],

  1. I. good-will, benevolence, kindness, favor, friendship (diff. from amor, q.v.; in good class. prose, most freq. in Cic., esp. in Lael. and Off.): amor, ex quo amicitia nominata, princeps est ad benevolentiam conjungendam, Cic. Lael. 8, 26; id. Fam. 3, 9, 1; * Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 63 (Fleck. sapientia): capere, movere, Cic. Off. 2, 9, 32: declarare, to express, id. Fam. 3, 12, 4: multitudinis animos ad benevolentiam allicere, id. Off. 2, 14, 48: comparare, id. ib. 2, 15, 54: adjungere sibi, id. Mur. 20, 41: alicujus benevolentiam consequi, Nep. Dat. 5, 2: acquirere sibi, Quint. 3, 8, 7: capere, Auct. Her. 1, 4, 6: contrahere, id. ib. 1, 5, 8: conligere, id. ib.: pro tuā erga me benevolentiā, Cic. Fam. 13, 60, 2: desiderare benevolentiam, good-will, readiness, willingness, id. Or. 1, 1: benevolentia singularis, an exceeding friendliness of feeling, Suet. Calig. 3: cum aliquo benevolentiā in aliquem certare, Tac. A. 13, 21.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. In the jurists, mildness, benignity, indulgence: interponere benevolentiam, Dig. 29, 2, 52; Just. Inst. 2, 20.
    2. B. In plur. (post-class.), kind conduct, friendly services: non in benevolentiis segnis, Spart. Carac. 1; Arn. 6 init.