beneficial English · revision 8041

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1494|origins=la beneficium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/, /ˌbɛn.əˈfɪʃ.əl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|beneficialis|t=pertaining to a favour]], partly through Old French bénéficial,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|beneficium|t=a favour, kindness]] (see [[benefice]]),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from beneficus, kind, from bene, well, and -ficus, doing, from facere, to do,^(Etymonline) from PIE [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-|alt=*dhe-|t=to set, put]].^(Etymonline) MWU describes it as benefice, in an obsolete sense advantage, and -ial.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Helpful, advantageous: 1494 in the OED, the mid-15th century in Etymonline and NODE.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Profitable in money, lucrative, is from 1526,^(OED 1989) as is the obsolete sense beneficent.^(OED 1989) Of or holding a church benefice is an obsolete sense of 1592.^(OED 1989) In law, of the right to the usufruct or proceeds of property, as a ''beneficial interest'', it is from 1844.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1494 – advantageous.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – lucrative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – of a benefice (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1844 – in law.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Producing a good result; [[advantageous]] or helpful.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' Entitled to receive the profits or proceeds of property.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[beneficially]]

+ * [[beneficialness]]

+ * [[nonbeneficial]]

+ * [[unbeneficial]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[benefit]]

+ * [[benefice]]

+ * [[beneficent]]

+ * [[beneficiary]]

+ * [[benefactor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}