[prof.it] n, often attrib [ME, fr. MF, fr. L profectus advance, profit, fr. proficere] (14c) 1: a valuable return: gain
2: the excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions; esp: the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost
3: net income usu. for a given period of time
4: the ratio of profit for a given year to the amount of capital invested or to the value of sales
5: the compensation accruing to entrepreneurs for the assumption of risk in business enterprise as distinguished from wages or rent -- prof.it.less adj -- prof.it.wise adv
[2]profit vi (14c) 1: to be of service or advantage: avail
2: to derive benefit: gain
3: to make a profit ~ vt: to be of service to: benefit