n. & v.
--n.
1. a favourable or helpful factor or circumstance; advantage, profit.
2 (often in pl.) payment made under insurance or social security (sickness benefit).
3 a public performance or game of which the proceeds go to a particular player or company or charitable cause.
--v. (benefited, benefiting; US benefitted, benefitting)
1. tr. do good to; bring advantage to.
2 intr. (often foll. by from, by) receive an advantage or gain.
Phrases and idioms:
benefit of clergy
1. hist. exemption of the English tonsured clergy and nuns from the jurisdiction of the ordinary civil courts.
2 ecclesiastical sanction or approval (marriage without benefit of clergy). the benefit of the doubt a concession that a person is innocent, correct, etc., although doubt exists. benefit society a society for mutual insurance against illness or the effects of old age.
Etymology: ME f. AF benfet, OF bienfet, f. L benefactum f. bene facere do well