■ noun
1》 an advantage or profit gained from something.
2》 a payment made by the state or an insurance scheme to someone entitled to receive it, e.g. an unemployed person.
3》 a public performance designed to raise money for a charity.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing or ~ting , ~ed or ~ted ) receive an advantage; profit.
↘bring advantage to.
Phrases
~ of clergy
1》 exemption of the English clergy and nuns from the jurisdiction of the ordinary civil courts (abolished in 1827).
2》 ecclesiastical sanction or approval.
the ~ of the doubt a concession that a person or fact must be regarded as correct, if the contrary has not been proven.
Origin
ME: from OFr. bienfet , from L. benefactum 'good deed', from bene facere 'do good (to)'.