Benefactor

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛnəˌfaktə/

Definitions

1. A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause
2. An individual who offers support, often in the form of financial aid or resources, to benefit someone else or a charitable cause
3. Someone who offers assistance or support to another, especially by giving money or resources

Etymology: "Benefactor" is a Latin compound built from "bene" ("well" or "good") and "faciō" ("do" or "make"), so its literal sense is closer to "one who does good." The Latin noun "benefactor" was used in the sense of "he who bestows a favor," and it passed into Middle English, where it kept that core idea of someone conferring a kindness or advantage on another. The word's inner structure is still visible in its relatives. The same "bene" and "faciō" pair lies behind "benefit," which carries the same sense of doing good, and the Latin verb "benefaciō," meaning "benefit someone," is the direct source that the noun was formed from. In English the sense narrowed over time toward the giving of money or material help, which is the meaning most readers recognize today.

Synonyms: patron, sponsor, donor, supporter, backer

Antonyms: recipient, beneficiary, opponent, adversary, rival