for someone's benefit

noun

something that is advantageous or good; an advantage: He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.

a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by a benefit society, insurance company, or public agency: The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.

a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.

Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.

verb (used with object)

to do good to; be of service to: a health program to benefit everyone.

00:10

For someone's benefit is always a great word to know.

So is ort. Does it mean:

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

verb (used without object)

to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement: He has never benefited from all that experience.

Idioms

for someone's benefit, so as to produce a desired effect in another's mind: He wasn't really angry; that was just an act for his girlfriend's benefit.

Origin:
1350–1400; late Middle English benefytt, benefett (noun), alteration (with Latinized first syllable) of Middle English b(i)enfet, benefait < Anglo-French benfet, Middle French bienfait < Latin benefactum good deed; see bene-, fact

Related forms

ben·e·fit·er, ben·e·fit·ter, noun

pre·ben·e·fit, verb, pre·ben·e·fit·ed or pre·ben·e·fit·ted, pre·ben·e·fit·ing or pre·ben·e·fit·ting.

self-ben·e·fit, noun

self-ben·e·fit·ing, self-ben·e·fit·ting, adjective

su·per·ben·e·fit, noun

un·ben·e·fit·ed, un·ben·e·fit·ted, adjective

un·ben·e·fit·ing, un·ben·e·fit·ting, adjective

Synonyms
1. favor, service. See advantage.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary

benefit (ˈbɛnɪfɪt)

—n
1.	something that improves or promotes
2.	advantage or sake: this is for your benefit
3.	(Brit)
	a. an allowance paid by the government as for sickness, unemployment, etc, to which a person is entitled under social security or the national insurance scheme
	b. any similar allowance in various other countries
4.	(sometimes plural) a payment or series of payments made by an institution, such as an insurance company or trade union, to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc
5.	a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity

—vb , -fits, -fiting, -fited, -fits, -fitting, -fitted
6.	to do or receive good; profit

[C14: from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin benefactum, from bene facere to do well]

Earnings Related Supplement or Benefit

—n
	ERS (formerly, in the British National Insurance scheme) a payment based on earnings in the previous tax year, payable (in addition to unemployment or sickness benefit) for about six months to a sick or unemployed person

Benefit or Benefit

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

benefit

late 14c., "good or noble deed," also "advantage, profit," from Anglo-Fr. benfet "well-done," from L. benefactum "good deed" (see benefactor). Meaning "performance or entertainment to raise money for some charitable cause" is from 1680s. The verb is attested from 1540s.

Matching Quote

"The very fact that he had no rabble or troop of hirelings about him would alone distinguish him from ordinary heroes. His company was small indeed, because few could be found worthy to pass muster. Each one who there laid down his life for the poor and oppressed was a picked man,... a man of principle, of rare courage, and devoted humanity; ready to sacrifice his life at any moment for the benefit of his fellow-man. It may be doubted if there were as many more their equals in these respects in all the country.... These alone were ready to step between the oppressor and the oppressed. Surely they were the very best men you could select to be hung. That was the greatest compliment which this country could pay them. They were ripe for the gallows. She has tried a long time, she has hung a good many, but never found the right one before."

-Henry David Thoreau

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