different between beneficent vs benefactor

English

Etymology

From Latin *beneficens, *beneficent-, from bene (“well, good”) + -ficens, combining form from faciens, present participle of facere (“to make or do”). Compare English beneficence.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /b??n?f.?.s?nt/

Adjective

beneficent (comparative more beneficent, superlative most beneficent)

1. Given to acts that are kind, charitable, philanthropic or beneficial.

Synonyms

• generous
• beneficient

Antonyms

• maleficent

Related terms

• benefactor
• beneficial
• magnificent
• munificent

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• benefactour (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English benefactor, borrowed from Medieval Latin benefactor (“he who bestows a favor”), from Latin benefaci? (“benefit someone”), from bene (“good”) + faci? (“do, make”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: b?n'?f?kt?r, IPA^(key): /?b?n??fækt?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b?n??fakt?/
• Hyphenation: ben?e?fac?tor

Noun

benefactor (plural benefactors, feminine benefactress or benefactoress or benefactrix)

1. Somebody who gives a gift, often money to a charity.
2. Someone who performs good or noble deeds.

Related terms

• benefactive
• benefactress
• benefactrix
• beneficiary (near antonym)
• beneficent

Translations

Catalan

Alternative forms

• benfactor

Etymology

From Late Latin benefactor.

Noun

benefactor m (plural benefactors, feminine benefactora)

1. benefactor

Related terms

• malfactor, malefactor

Further reading

• “benefactor” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “benefactor” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.
• “benefactor” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “benefactor” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Latin

Etymology

From benefaci? or benefactus +? -tor.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /be.ne?fak.tor/, [b?n??fäkt??r]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /be.ne?fak.tor/, [b?n??f?kt??r]

Noun

benefactor m (genitive benefact?ris); third declension

1. (Late Latin) benefactor; one who confers a favour

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Antonyms

• malefactor

Related terms

• benefactus

Descendants

References

• benefactor in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• benefactor in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin benefactor, from Latin benefacio. Compare the inherited doublet bienhechor.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /benefa??to?/, [be.ne.fa???t?o?]
• Hyphenation: be?ne?fac?tor

Noun

benefactor m (plural benefactores, feminine benefactora, feminine plural benefactoras)

1. benefactor

Related terms

• bienfacer

Further reading

• “benefactor” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.