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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Benefit


BEN'EFIT, noun [Primarily from Latin beneficium, or benefactum.]

1. An act of kindness; a favor conferred.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalms 103:2.

2. Advantage; profit; a word of extensive use, and expressing whatever contributes to promote prosperity and personal happiness, or add value to property.

Men have no right to what is not for their benefit

3. In law, benefit of clergy. [See Clergy.]

BEN'EFIT, verb transitive To do good to; to advantage; to advance in health, or prosperity; applied either to persons or things; as, exercise benefits health; trade benefits a nation.

BEN'EFIT, verb intransitive To gain advantage; to make improvement; as, he has benefited by good advice; that is, he has been benefited.