Search the Dictionary

The act of conferring a benefit. Johnson.

One who confers a benefit or benefits. Bacon.

A woman who confers a benefit. His benefactress blushes at the deed. Cowper.

A favor or benefit. [Obs.] Baxter.

Conferring benefits; useful; profito. The war which would have been most beneficial to us. Swift.

One who receives anything as a gift; one who receives a benefit or advantage; esp. one who receives help or income from an educational fund or a trust estate. The rich men will be offering sacrifice to their Deity whose beneficiaries they are. Jer. Taylor.

A bespeaking. Among actors, a benefit (when a particular play is bespoken.) "The night of her bespeak." Dickens.

To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety. Had we best retire I see a storm. Milton. Had I not best go to her Thackeray.

That which is asked or granted as a benefit or favor; a gift; a benefaction; a grant; a present. Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above. James i. 17 (Rev. Ver. ).

To enrich; to benefit; to give in addition. [Obs.] And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. Shak.

or the government and protection of a free people. [Religion] is . . . calculated for our benefit. Abp. Tillotson.

multiplicity of publication is, that some of them may be calculated to injure rather than benefit society. Goldsmith. The minister, on the other hand, had never gone through an experience calculated to lead him beyond the scope of generally received laws. Hawthorne.

Like a churl; rude; cross-grained; ungracious; surly; illiberal; niggardly. "Churlish benefits." Ld. Burleigh. Half mankind maintain a churlish strife. Cowper.

The privilege or benefit of clergy. If convicted of a clergyable felony, he is entitled equally to his clergy after as before conviction. Blackstone. Benefit of clergy (Eng., Law), the exemption of the persons of clergymen from criminal process before a secular judge -- a privilege which was extended to all who could r…

Entitled to, or admitting, the benefit of clergy; as, a clergyable felony. Blackstone.

A feast for the benefit of the parish clerk. [Eng.] T. Warton.

f many species. They and their larvæ feed on aphids or plant lice, and hence are of great benefit to man. Also called ladybirds and ladybugs.

One who confers any benefit. [Obs.] Feltham.

ch lives in with, or on, another, partaking usually of the same food. Both species may be benefited by the association.

Convenience; accommodation; profit; benefit; advantage; interest; commodiousness. [Obs.] Drawn by the commodity of a footpath. B. Jonson. Men may seek their own commodity, yet if this were done with injury to others, it was not to be suffered. Hooker.