benefactum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [bɛ.nɛˈfak.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [be.neˈfak.tum]^[1]

Forms

benefactum n (genitive benefactī); second declension^[1] Also written as two words, bene factum.^[2]

Etymology

It is the neuter of the participle of benefaciō “to do good”, used as a noun, from bene (“well”) and faciō (“to do”).^[2][1][3] De Vaan explains ⟨bene⟩ from the ablative ⟨*duenēd⟩ of the ancestor of bonus, Proto-Italic *dweno- (“good”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its earliest source is Plautus.^[3] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a benefit, service, good deed, usually in the plural.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a favour, good deed, benefit.^[5] In Medieval Latin the plural benefacta were good works, and the singular a community of good deeds.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A benefit, service, good deed (usually plural).^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) Good works; a community of good works.^[6]

Related words

• benefaciō
• beneficium
• bene
• faciō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill