benefit English · revision 2865

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1376, Piers Plowman|origins=la benefactum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈben.ɪ.fɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|benfet]], later benefet, benefit,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|xno|benfet]], Old French bienfait,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly from [[la|benefactum|t=good deed]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|bene facere|t=to do good]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|bene|t=well]] and [[m|la|facere|t=to do]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*dhe-|t=to set, put]].^(Etymonline) The spelling with -e- in the middle was influenced by Latin bene.^(MWU 2024) The verb is from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A good deed: before 1376, in ''Piers Plowman'',^(Barnhart 1988) 1377 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “A kind deed, a favour” is also from 1377.^(OED 1989) The ordinary sense “advantage, profit” is from 1393,^(OED 1989) the 15th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) ''Benefit of clergy'', the privilege of the clergy to be exempt from the secular courts, is from 1488–9.^(OED 1989) A theatrical performance whose takings go to a particular actor or cause is from 1629, the 1680s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Money paid under insurance or a public scheme is a later sense.^(AHD) ''Benefit of the doubt'' is recorded from the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, “to do good to”, is from 1472 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and 1549 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and “to gain advantage” from 1613.^(OED 1989) In northern English dialect a ''benefit'' was a church living.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1376 – a good deed.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1393 – advantage, profit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1472 – verb, to do good to.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1488–9 – ''benefit of clergy''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1613 – verb, to gain advantage.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1629 – a benefit performance.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-19th century – ''benefit of the doubt''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that improves well-being; an [[advantage]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Help, aid: ''for the benefit of all''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A payment or service provided under an [[insurance]] policy, employment contract or state scheme.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A performance or event held to raise money for a cause or person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To be helpful or useful to.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To gain an advantage; to [[profit]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[benefiter]]

+ * [[beneficial]]

+ * [[unbenefited]]

+ * [[unbenefiting]]

+ * [[disbenefit]]

+ * [[risk-benefit]]

+ * [[benefit of clergy]]

+ * [[benefit society]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[benefactor]]

+ * [[beneficence]]

+ * [[beneficent]]

+ * [[beneficiary]]

+ * [[benefice]]

+ * [[fact]]

+ * [[bonus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}