benefit
verbEtymology From Late Middle English benefytt, benefett, alteration (due to Latin bene-) of benfet, bienfet, bienfait (“good or noble deed”), from Anglo-Norman benfet (“well-done”), Middle French bienfait, from Old French bienfet, bienfait (“foredeal, favour”), from past participle of bienfaire (“to do good, do well”), from bien (“well”) + faire (“to do”), modelled after Latin benefactum (“good deed”). More at benefactor.
1
To be or to provide a benefit to.
- […] I will repent of the good; wherewith I saide I would benefite them.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 18:10:
- The spending in and around local stations is creating micro-economies that are benefiting Great Britain's high streets, independent businesses and economic growth, both locally and on a national level.2025 October 1, Richard Evans, “The value of the railway effect”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 58:
2
To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.
- Diesel maintenance schedules are benefiting from work done on the magnificent Hilger & Watts electronic spectrograph for oil analysis, which detects minute quantities of metals in samples of used lubricating oil; [...].1960 June 23, “Talking of Trains: New B.R. research laboratory”, in Trains Illustrated, page 329:
- Although some apeirophobics have benefitted from treatments like medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, others have found no way to mitigate the existential terror.2016 September 1, Bobby Azarian, “Apeirophobia: The Fear of Eternity”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 18 Oct 2017:
2 more examples
- Instead, the grime of the steam years which still discoloured many of the best architectural features Betjeman loved has been cleared away, and several of the stations have benefited from major refurbishments which have greatly improved them.2021 January 13, Christian Wolmar, “Read all about London's Cathedrals of Steam”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 63:
- Although Katy has admitted to being bi-curious in the past, the reason a lot of fans wanted clarity on her sexuality was to ensure she wasn't queer-baiting and benefiting from a culture she isn't actually part of.2023 September 14, Grazia Contributor, “This Is Why Katy Perry’s Sexuality Can Be A Controversial Talking Point”, in Grazia:
- Derived terms
56 terms
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- benefactor, beneficence, beneficent, beneficiary