Ben"e*fit (&?;), n. [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. Natural advantages; 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.] 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. To gain advantage; to
make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the
change.
