Profitable, a.
Etymology: [F. profitable.]
Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; useful; helpful; advantageous; beneficial; as, a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession. What was so profitable to the empire became fatal to the emperor. Arbuthnot. -- Prof"it*a*ble*ness, n. -- Prof"it*a*bly, adv.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists profitable only as an antonym, under pernicious, vain.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given