different between benefit vs malefit

English

Alternative forms

• benefite (obsolete)

Etymology

From Late Middle English benefytt, benefett, alteration (due to Latin bene-) of benfet, bienfet, bienfait (“good or noble deed”), from Anglo-Norman benfet (“well-done”), Middle French bienfait, from Old French bienfet, bienfait (“foredeal, favour”), from past participle of bienfaire (“to do good, do well”), from bien (“well”) + faire (“to do”), modelled after Latin benefactum (“good deed”). More at benefactor.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b?n.?.f?t/
• (US) enPR: b?n'?f?t, IPA^(key): /?b?n.?.f?t/

Noun

benefit (countable and uncountable, plural benefits)

1. An advantage; help or aid from something.
2. (insurance) A payment made in accordance with an insurance policy or a public assistance scheme.
3. An event such as a performance, given to raise funds for some cause.
4. (obsolete) beneficence; liberality
   • c. 1613, John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi

     What was it with such violence he
     On the wild benefit of nature live took Happier than we

5. Intended audience (as for the benefit of).

Synonyms

• (advantage, help): foredeal, advantage, aid, assistance, boon, help
• (payment): subsidy

Antonyms

• (advantage, help): harm, disadvantage, encumbrance, hindrance, nuisance, obstacle, detriment

Derived terms

• beneficial
• benefiter
• benifit (a misspelling)

Translations

See also

• lagniappe

Verb

benefit (third-person singular simple present benefits, present participle benefiting or benefitting, simple past and past participle benefited or benefitted)

1. (transitive) To be or to provide a benefit to.
2. (intransitive) To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.

Usage notes

• Benefiting and benefited are more common, with benefitting and benefitted being minor variants, especially in the US.

Synonyms

• help, batten, behoove

Antonyms

• malefic
• detriment

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English benefit.

Noun

benefit m (invariable)

1. benefit, advantage

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?be.ne.fit/, [?b?n?f?t?]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?be.ne.fit/, [?b??n?fit?]

Verb

benefit

1. third-person singular present passive indicative of benefaci?

English

Noun

malefit (plural malefits)

1. A detriment or disadvantage

   Synonyms: encumbrance, hindrance, nuisance, obstacle, drawback

   Antonyms: benefit, advantage, aid, assistance, boon, foredeal, help

Latin

Verb

malefit

1. third-person singular present passive indicative of malefaci?