{ ‖ } n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) A hoglike mammal of New Guinea (Porcula papuensis). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) See Benne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. bēn. ] A prayer; boon. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

What is good for a bootless bene ? Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Naut.) See Neaped. [ 1913 Webster ]

prep. [ OE. benethe, bineoðen, AS. beneoðan, benyðan; pref. be- + neoðan, nyðan, downward, beneath, akin to E. nether. See Nether. ] 1. Lower in place, with something directly over or on; under; underneath; hence, at the foot of. “Beneath the mount.” Ex. xxxii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Under, in relation to something that is superior, or that oppresses or burdens. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Lower in rank, dignity, or excellence than; as, brutes are beneath man; man is beneath angels in the scale of beings. Hence: Unworthy of; unbecoming. [ 1913 Webster ]

He will do nothing that is beneath his high station. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a lower place; underneath. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earth you take from beneath will be barren. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region or position; as, in earth beneath. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., (imperative pl., ) bless ye, praise ye. ] A canticle (the Latin version of which begins with this word) which may be used in the order for morning prayer in the Church of England. It is taken from an apocryphal addition to the third chapter of Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ interj. [ See Benedicite, n. ] An exclamation corresponding to Bless you !. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ From Benedick, one of the characters in Shakespeare's play of “Much Ado about Nothing.” ] A married man, or a man newly married. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. benedictus, p. p. of benedicere to bless. See Benison, and cf. Bennet. ] Having mild and salubrious qualities. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a famous order of monks, established by St. Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century. This order was introduced into the United States in 1846. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Benedictines wear black clothing, and are sometimes called Black Monks. The name Black Fr&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;rs which belongs to the Dominicans, is also sometimes applied to the Benedictines. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. benedictio: cf. F. bénédiction. See Benison. ] 1. The act of blessing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A blessing; an expression of blessing, prayer, or kind wishes in favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of happiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus
Followed with benediction. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Specifically: The short prayer which closes public worship; as, to give the benediction. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.) The form of instituting an abbot, answering to the consecration of a bishop. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (R. C. Ch.) A solemn rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water, and formally dedicated to God. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A book of benedictions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A collected series of benedictions. [ 1913 Webster ]

The benedictionary of Bishop Athelwold. G. Gurton's Needle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to bless. Gauden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Expressing wishes for good; as, a benedictory prayer. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., blessed. See Benedict, a. ] The song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist (Luke i. 68); -- so named from the first word of the Latin version. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Blessed. [ R. ] Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. benefactio, fr. benefacere to do good to one; bene well + facere to do. See Benefit. ] 1. The act of conferring a benefit. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A benefit conferred; esp. a charitable donation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Gift; present; gratuity; boon; alms. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. [ L. ] One who confers a benefit or benefits. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who confers a benefit. [ 1913 Webster ]

His benefactress blushes at the deed. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. beneficus. See Benefice. ] Favorable; beneficent. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. bénéfice, L. beneficium, a kindness , in LL. a grant of an estate, fr. L. beneficus beneficent; bene well + facere to do. See Benefit. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A favor or benefit. [ Obs. ] Baxter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Feudal Law) An estate in lands; a fief. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Such an estate was granted at first for life only, and held on the mere good pleasure of the donor; but afterward, becoming hereditary, it received the appellation of fief, and the term benefice became appropriated to church livings. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the Church of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the maintenance of divine service. See Advowson. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ All church preferments are called benefices, except bishoprics, which are called dignities. But, ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to bishoprics, deaneries, archdeaconries, and prebendaryships; benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beneficed. ] To endow with a benefice. [ Commonly in the past participle. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Possessed of a benefice or church preferment. “Beneficed clergymen.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no benefice. “Beneficeless precisians.” Sheldon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. beneficentia, fr. beneficus: cf. F. bénéficence. See Benefice. ] The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or charity; bounty springing from purity and goodness. [ 1913 Webster ]

And whose beneficence no charge exhausts. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Benevolence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Doing or producing good; performing acts of kindness and charity; characterized by beneficence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The beneficent fruits of Christianity. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Benevolent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to beneficence. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a beneficent manner; with beneficence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. bénéficial, LL. beneficialis. ] 1. Conferring benefits; useful; profitable; helpful; advantageous; serviceable; contributing to a valuable end; -- followed by to. [ 1913 Webster ]

The war which would have been most beneficial to us. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Receiving, or entitled to have or receive, advantage, use, or benefit; as, the beneficial owner of an estate. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. King. [ Obs. ] “A beneficial foe.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a beneficial or advantageous manner; profitably; helpfully. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being beneficial; profitableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. bénéficiaire, LL. beneficiarius. ] 1. Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession. [ 1913 Webster ]

A feudatory or beneficiary king of England. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Bestowed as a gratuity; as, beneficiary gifts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Beneficiaries 1. A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice and uses its proceeds. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who receives anything as a gift; one who receives a benefit or advantage; esp. one who receives help or income from an educational fund or a trust estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rich men will be offering sacrifice to their Deity whose beneficiaries they are. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Sp. beneficiar to benefit, to work mines. ] (Mining) To reduce (ores). -- Ben`e*fi`ci*a"tion (&unr_;), n. [1913 Webster]

a. Beneficent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr. L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact. ] 1. An act of kindness; a favor conferred. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Beneficence; liberality. [ Obs. ] Webster (1623). [ 1913 Webster ]

5. pl. Natural advantages; endowments; accomplishments. [ R. ] “The benefits of your own country.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Benefit of clergy. (Law) See under Clergy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Profit; service; use; avail. See Advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Benefited; p. pr. & vb. n. Benefitting. ] To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. Jer. xviii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who confers a benefit; -- also, one who receives a benefit. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A society or association formed for mutual insurance, as among tradesmen or in labor unions, to provide for relief in sickness, old age, and for the expenses of burial. Usually called friendly society in Great Britain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ AS. ben&unr_;man. Cf. Benim. ] To deprive (of), or take away (from). [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Bename. 1. Promised; vowed. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Named; styled. [ Archaic ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ It. beneplacito pleasure, fr. L. bene well + placitus pleasing. ] 1. At or during pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

For our English judges there never was . . . any bene placito as their tenure. F. Harrison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) At pleasure; ad libitum. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Benetted. ] To catch in a net; to insnare. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. benevolence, L. benevolentia. See Benevolent. ] 1. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wakeful benevolence of the gospel. Chalmers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An act of kindness; good done; charity given. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely represented as a gratuity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Benevolence, Beneficence, Munificence. Benevolence marks a disposition made up of a choice and desire for the happiness of others. Beneficence marks the working of this disposition in dispensing good on a somewhat broad scale. Munificence shows the same disposition, but acting on a still broader scale, in conferring gifts and favors. These are not necessarily confined to objects of immediate utility. One may show his munificence in presents of pictures or jewelry, but this would not be beneficence. Benevolence of heart; beneficence of life; munificence in the encouragement of letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. benevolens, -entis; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See Bounty, and Voluntary. ] Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness; disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable. -- Be*nev"o*lent*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Benevolent, Beneficent. Etymologically considered, benevolent implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations, benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase “benevolent labors” turns attention to the source of these labors, viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as productive of good. So, “beneficent intentions” point to the feelings of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while “benevolent intentions” would only denote a general wish and design to do good. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. benevolus. ] Kind; benevolent. [ Obs. ] T. Puller. [ 1913 Webster ]