From Latin 'bene' (well) + 'velle' (to wish) — literally 'well-wishing,' kin to 'will,' 'voluntary,' and 'volition.'
The quality of being well-meaning; kindness; an act of kindness.
From Old French 'benivolence,' from Latin 'benevolentia' (good will, kindness, the active desire that good things happen to others), a compound of 'bene' (well, rightly, in a good manner) + 'volēns,' present participle of 'velle' (to wish, to want, to will), from PIE *welh₁- (to wish, to choose, to will). Benevolence is literally 'well-wishing' — the active desire that good befall others. The Latin root 'velle' produced
'Benevolence' (well-wishing) and 'malevolence' (ill-wishing) are perfect antonyms sharing Latin 'velle' (to wish). The same root gave us 'volunteer' (one who wishes freely), 'volition' (the act of willing), and English 'will' itself. German 'Wohlwollen' (benevolence) is a perfect calque: 'wohl' (well) + 'wollen' (to wish) — the same structure