I.the quality of beneficus, kindness, beneficence, an honorable and kind treatment of others (opp. maleficentia, Lact. Ira Dei, 1, 1; several times in the philos. writings of Cic.; “elsewh. rare): quid praestantius bonitate et beneficentiā?” Cic. N.D. 1, 43, 121: “beneficentia, quam eandem vel benignitatem vel liberalitatem appellari licet,” id. Off. 1, 7, 20; 1, 14, 42 sq.; “2, 15, 52 and 53: comitas ac beneficentia,” id. de Or. 2, 84, 343: “uti beneficentiā adversus supplices,” Tac. A. 12, 20: “beneficentia augebat ornabatque subjectos,” Sen. Ep. 90, 5; Vulg. Heb. 13, 16.
bĕnĕfĭcentĭa , ae, f. from beneficus, like magnificentia, munificentia, from magnificus, munificus; cf. Beier and Gernh. upon Cic. Off. 1, 7, 20,