Meaning

noun financial assistance in time of need

noun something that aids or promotes well-being

noun a performance to raise money for a charitable cause

originFrom 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…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0