benefit [ben'i_fit],
noun any advantage, natural or other; a performance, match, etc whose proceeds go to one of the company, a player, or other particular person or cause (also adjective); a right in the form of money or services enjoyed under social security or insurance schemes; a kindness; a favour.
verb transitive to do good to; to be to the advantage of.
verb intransitive to obtain advantage or good (with from or by):
ben'efiting (also
ben'efitting present participle); past tense and past participle
ben'efited (also
ben'efitted).
benefit of clergy see under clergy.
benefit of inventory (Scots law; historical) an heir's privilege of securing himself against unlimited liability for his ancestor, by producing within a year an inventory of his heritage or real estate, to the extent of which alone he was liable.
benefit of the doubt presumption of innocence when culpability is uncertain.
benefit society a friendly society.
[Middle English benfet, from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin benefactum]
The Chambers Dictionary. Copyright © 1994 by Chambers Harrap Publishers, Ltd. All rights reserved.
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