Category:Benefit

Ben"e*fit, n. Etym: [OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr. L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact.]

1. An act of kindness; a favor conferred. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii. 2.

2. Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit. Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke.

3. A theatrical performance, a concert, or the like, the proceeds of which do not go to the lessee of the theater or to the company, but to some individual actor, or to some charitable use.

4. Beneficence; liberality. [Obs.] Webster (1623).

5. pl.

Defn: Natural advantaged; endowments; accomplishments. [R.] "The benefits of your own country." Shak. Benefit of clergy. (Law) See under Clergy.

Syn.

-- Profit; service; use; avail. See Advantage.

Ben"e*fit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benefited; p. pr. & vb. n. Benefitting.]

Defn: To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit. I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Jer. xviii. 10.

Ben"e*fit, v. i.

Defn: To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change.