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Webster 1913 Edition

Beneficiary

Benˊe-fi′ci-a-ry

,
Adj.
[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.
A feudatory or
beneficiary
king of England.
Bacon.
2.
Bestowed as a gratuity;
as,
beneficiary
gifts
.

Benˊe-fi′ci-a-ry

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Beneficiaries
.
1.
A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice and uses its proceeds.
Ayliffe.
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.
The rich men will be offering sacrifice to their Deity whose
beneficiaries
they are.
Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1828 Edition

Beneficiary

BENEFI'CIARY

,
Adj.
[L.beneficiarius. See Benefaction.]
Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; having a dependent and secondary possession.

BENEFI'CIARY

,
Noun.
One who holds a benefice. A beneficiary is not the proprietor of the revenues of his church; but he has the administration of them, without being accountable to any person. The word was used, in the middle ages, for a feudatory, or vassal.
1.
One who receives any thing as a gift, or is maintained by charity.

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