different between benefactress vs beneficiary

English

Etymology

benefactor +? -ess

Noun

benefactress (plural benefactresses)

1. A female benefactor.

Translations

English

Etymology

From Latin beneficiarius (“enjoying a favor, granted a privilege”) from beneficium (“benefit”), perhaps via or influenced by French bénéficiaire (“beneficiary”). Indirectly, by way of the etymology of the Latin word beneficium, the English word beneficiary ultimately has the same origin as the English word benefactor, its near antonym.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b?n.??f??.??.i/, /?b?n.??f??.??.i/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?b?n.??f??.?.i/, /b?n.??f??.i??.i/

Noun

beneficiary (plural beneficiaries)

1. One who benefits or receives an advantage.
2. (law) One who benefits from the distribution, especially of an estate.

3. (insurance) One who benefits from the payout of an insurance policy.

Related terms

• benefactor (near antonym)
• benefactress (near antonym)

Translations

Adjective

beneficiary (not comparable)

1. Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession.
   • 1623, Francis Bacon, A Discourse of a War with Spain

     a feudatory or beneficiary king of England

2. Bestowed as a gratuity.

Further reading

• beneficiary on Wikipedia.Wikipedia