Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Benefit

Benefit ({not transcribed}) , noun

[Old English benefet, benfeet, bienfet, French bienfait, from Latin benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, past participle of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact.]

1.
An act of kindness; a favor conferred.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm ciii. 2
2.
Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit.
Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. — Burke
3.
A theatrical performance, a concert, or the like, the proceeds of which do not go to the lessee of the theater or to the company, but to some individual actor, or to some charitable use.
4.
Beneficence; liberality. [Obsolete] — Webster (1623)
5.
Natural advantages; endowments; accomplishments. [Rare]
The benefits of your own country. — Shakespeare
Collocations (1)
Benefit of clergy (Law) , See under Clergy.

Benefit , transitive verb

To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit.
I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. — Jer. xviii. 10

Benefit , intransitive verb

To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change.