behalf English · revision 5309

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1303}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /bɪˈhɑːf/, /bəˈhɑːf/, US /bɪˈhæf/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a Middle English fusion of the Old English phrases (him) be healfe “by (his) side” and on (his) healfe “on (his) side”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) It is formed [[af|enm|be|half|t2=side]], half being from Old English healf “side”.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[by]] and [[half]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the interest of, in the name of: 1303, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne, as behalve.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was confused with the Middle English adverb behalve “by the side of, near”.^(Etymonline) From the later 15th century the form behalve gave way to behalf, as the singular halve gave way to half.^(Barnhart 1988) German meinethalben “on my behalf”, from Middle High German von minen halben, is a parallel development.^(Barnhart 1988) ''On behalf of'' in the sense “as the agent of” is from 1303, and ''in behalf of'', “for the benefit of”, from 1598.^(OED 1989) In recent use ''on behalf'' has often been used in the sense of ''in behalf'', and the distinction has been lost.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1303 – in the name of.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1386 – literally, beside.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1598 – ''in behalf of'', for the benefit of.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Interest, support or benefit, used in the phrases ''on behalf of'' and ''in behalf of''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''on behalf of'': as the [[agent]] or representative of someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''in behalf of'': for the benefit of someone.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[half]]

+ * [[by]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Traditionally ''in behalf of'' means “for the benefit of” and ''on behalf of'' means “as the agent of”, but the two senses are close and often confused.^(AHD)^(OED 1989) Collins notes that ''on behalf of'' is sometimes wrongly used for ''on the part of''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}