Boons

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /buːnz/

Definitions

1. A helpful advantage or gift that provides joy and prosperity
2. A beneficial advantage or favor that enhances well-being and happiness
3. A positive and welcome benefit that improves someone's situation or condition

Etymology: "Boons" is simply the plural of "boon", which came into English as a noun meaning a prayer or petition. Its root is Old Norse "bón", meaning "prayer, petition", which traces back to a Proto-Germanic word for "supplication". Over time, the sense of asking shifted toward the sense of what is granted in answer: a favour, a benefit bestowed. The modern meaning owes something to a second, separate word. The adjective "boon", meaning "good" or "favourable", came from Old French "bon" and Latin "bonus", and it pulled the noun toward its present sense of a welcome advantage. So a word that once meant asking ended up meaning the good thing one hopes to receive.

Synonyms: benefits, blessings, advantages, gifts, perks

Antonyms: curses, disadvantages