different between salutary vs benign

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French salutaire and its source, Latin salutaris (“healthful”), from salus (“health”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?salj?t??i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?sælj?t??i/

Adjective

salutary (comparative more salutary, superlative most salutary)

1. Effecting or designed to effect an improvement; remedial: salutary advice.

   • We do it here historically, and I think it's, um, very salutary to know quite a bit about the history of ideas, particularly in philosophy which always suffers from a tendency to follow the latest fashion.

2. Promoting good health and physical well-being; wholesome; curative.

Usage notes

Not to be confused with salutatory (“characteristic of a salutation or greeting”).

Synonyms

• healful

Derived terms

• salutarily
• salutariness

Related terms

Translations

See also

• salutogenesis

Further reading

• salutary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• salutary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• salutary at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??na?n/

Adjective

benign (comparative benigner or more benign, superlative benignest or most benign)

1. Kind; gentle; mild.
   • 1826, Mary Shelley, The Last Man, part 1, chapter 9

     But though we both entertained these ideas, we differed in their application. Resentment added also a sting to my censure; and I reprobated Raymond's conduct in severe terms. Adrian was more benign, more considerate.

2. (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
3. (in combination) Not harmful to the environment.

4. (medicine) Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.

Synonyms

• (medicine): non-malignant

Antonyms

• malign
• malignant

Derived terms

• benignly
• benignant
• benignity
• benign neglect

Translations