Profit, n.
Etymology: [F., fr. L. profectus advance, progress, profit, fr. profectum. See Proficient.]
1. Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as, a profit on the sale of goods. Let no man anticipate uncertain profits. Rambler.
2. Accession of good; valuable results; useful consequences; benefit; avail; gain; as, an office of profit, This I speak for your own profit. 1 Cor. vii. 35. If you dare do yourself a profit and a right. Shak.
Syn. -- Benefit; avail; service; improvement; advancement; gain; emolument.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Profit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profited; p. pr. & vb. n. Profiting.]
To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage; to avail; to aid; as, truth profits all men. The word preached did not profit them. Heb. iv. 2. It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs. Dryden.
Profit, v. i.
1. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to improve; to gain; to advance. I profit not by thy talk. Shak.
2. To be of use or advantage; to do or bring good. Riches profit not in the day of wrath. Prov. xi. 4.
Shades of meaning
The returns or receipts include all that is received from an outlay or investment; the profit is the excess (if any) of the receipts over the outlay; hence, in government, morals, etc., the profit is what is really good, helpful, useful, valuable. Utility is chiefly used in the sense of some immediate or personal and generally some material good. Advantage is that which gives one a vantage-ground, either for coping with competitors or with difficulties, needs, or demands; as to have the advantage of a good education; it is frequently used of what one has beyond another or secures at the expense of another; as, to have the advantage of another in an argument, or to take advantage of another in a bargain. Gain is what one secures beyond what he previously possessed. Benefit is anything that does one good. Emolument is profit, return, or value accruing through official position. Expediency has respect to profit or advantage, real or supposed, considered apart from or perhaps in opposition to right, in actions having a moral character. Compare utility.
Prepositions
The profit of labor; on capital; in business.