benefactum Latin · revision 9821

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [bɛ.nɛˈfak.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [be.neˈfak.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''benefactum''' ''n'' (genitive benefactī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also written as two words, ''bene factum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of the participle of [[benefaciō]] “to do good”, used as a noun, from [[m|la|bene|t=well]] and [[m|la|faciō|t=to do]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan explains ⟨bene⟩ from the ablative ⟨*duenēd⟩ of the ancestor of [[bonus]], [[itc-pro|*dweno-|t=good]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its earliest source is Plautus.^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a benefit, service, good deed, usually in the plural.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a favour, good deed, benefit.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin the plural ''benefacta'' were good works, and the singular a community of good deeds.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|benefit]], service, good deed (usually plural).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Good works; a community of good works.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[benefaciō]]

+ * [[beneficium]]

+ * [[bene]]

+ * [[faciō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}