beneficium Latin · revision 9347

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la bene, la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [bɛ.nɛˈfɪ.ki.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [be.neˈfiː.t͡ʃi.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''beneficium''' ''n'' (genitive beneficiī or beneficī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also spelled ''benificium''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[beneficus]] “generous, kind” with the suffix [[-ium]]; ⟨beneficus⟩ is from [[bene]] “well” and [[faciō]] “to do”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a kindness, a service.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was an act for another's good, a kindness, favour, service, as in Plautus and Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In politics it was a privilege or grant, as in Cicero's ''in beneficiīs ad aerārium dēlātus'' “recommended for a reward”; in the army an appointment given by favour, or a largesse.^(OLD 2012) In law it was the benefit conferred by a law or a status, and its ablative meant by the favour of, thanks to.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was a favour granted to a dependant, a reward, a bribe, a gift of land for services, a pious gift to a church, and the land so held.^(Niermeyer 1976) In the Church it was a benefice, an office with a revenue.^(Stelten 1995) British Medieval Latin also had the benefit of clergy, the right to be tried in a church court.^(DMLBS) [[en|benefice]] (about 1300, a church living) comes from it through Old French and directly; its adjective ⟨beneficiālis⟩ gave [[en|beneficial]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of political favours.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''benefice'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''beneficial'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|kindness]], favour, service.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A privilege or grant; a military appointment; a largesse.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The benefit of a law or legal status.^(OLD 2012)

+ # (ablative) By the favour of, thanks to.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A grant of land for services; a [[m|en|fief]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A [[m|en|benefice]].^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|benefit of clergy|alt=Benefit of clergy]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beneficus]]

+ * [[benefactum]]

+ * [[en|benefice]]

+ * [[en|beneficial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}