beneficiary
/ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.əɹ.i/
beneficiary · adj — holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
beneficiary is pronounced /ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.əɹ.i/.
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.
adj
- Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession.e.g.“a feudatory or beneficiary king of England” — a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount
- Bestowed as a gratuity.e.g.“beneficiary gifts”
noun
- One who benefits or receives an advantage.e.g.“You are the lucky beneficiary of this special offer.”
- One who benefits from the distribution, especially out of a trust or estate.e.g.“If any beneficiary does not survive the settlor for a period of 30 days then the trustee shall distribute that beneficiary’s share to the surviving beneficiaries by right of representation.”
- One who benefits from the payout of an insurance policy.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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