首页

beneficiary

UK[ˌbenɪˈfɪʃəri]US[ˌbenɪˈfɪʃieri]
n

a person or group who receives money, advantages, or property from someone else, especially as stated in a will or as a result of an insurance policy.

n

the recipient of funds or other benefits from a benefactor.

Morpheme Breakdown

bene
fic
ary
bene

good

fic

make, do

ary

person connected with

Etymology

the word beneficiary is built upon the latin foundations for 'doing good'. the core element 'bene-' meaning 'well' combines with '-fic-', from 'facere' ('to make'), to form the concept of one who benefits or for whom good is done. the agent suffix '-ary' was then added to specify the person receiving this good. thus, the term evolved from its literal sense of 'one for whom good is done' to its modern legal and financial meaning, denoting the recipient of advantages, funds, or property from a will, trust, or insurance policy.

Analysis

Structure: bene (good) + fic (make, do) + ary (person connected with) bene (from latin 'bene', meaning 'well, good'); fic (from latin '-fic-', a combining form of 'facere', meaning 'to make, to do'); ary (from latin '-arius', a suffix forming nouns denoting a person concerned with or connected to something).

Examples

she was named the sole beneficiary of her grandfather's estate.

the charity is the main beneficiary of the annual fundraising gala.

as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, he received a substantial payout.

beneficiary – Meaning, Etymology & Word Origin | OpenEtymology