King James Bible Dictionary

PROF'IT, noun [Latin profectus, proficio, to profit literally to proceed forward, to advance; pro and facio. The primary sense of facio is to urge or drive.

1. In commerce, the advance in the price of goods sold beyond the cost of purchase. Net profit is the gain made by selling goods at an advanced price or a price beyond what they had cost the seller, and beyond all costs and charges. The profit of the farmer and the manufacturer is the gain made by the sale of produce or manufactures, after deducting the value of the labor, materials, rents and all expenses, together with the interest of the capital employed, whether land, machinery, buildings, instruments or money.

Let no man anticipate uncertain profits.

2. Any gain or pecuniary advantage; as an office of profit or honor.

3. Any advantage; any accession of good from labor or exertion; an extensive signification, comprehending the acquisition of any thing valuable, corporeal or intellectual, temporal or spiritual. A person may derive profit from exercise, amusements, reading, study, meditation, social intercourse, religious instruction, etc. Every improvement or advance in knowledge is profit to a wise man.

PROF'IT, verb transitive

1. To benefit; to advantage; applied to one's self, to derive some pecuniary interest or some accession of good from any thing; as, to profit one's self by a commercial undertaking, or by reading or instruction. In this sense, the verb is generally used intransitively. Applied to others, to communicate good to; to advance the interest of.

Brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you? 1 Corinthians 14:6.

Whereto might the strength of their hands profit me? Job 30:2.

2. To improve; to advance.

It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs.

PROF'IT, verb intransitive To gain advantage in percuniary interest; as, to profit by trade or manufactures.

1. To make improvement; to improve; to grow wiser or better; to advance in any thing useful; as, to profit by reading or by experience.

She has profited by your counsel.

2. To be of use or advantage; to bring good to.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath. Proverbs 11:4.

PROF'ITABLE, adjective Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; as a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession.

1. Useful; advantageous.

What was so profitable to the empire, became fatal to the emperor.

PROF'ITABLENESS, noun Gainfulness; as the profitableness of trade.

1. Usefulness; advantageousness.

PROF'ITABLY, adverb With gain; gainfully. Our ships are profitably employed.

1. Usefully; advantageously; with improvement. Our time may be profitably occupied in reading.

PROF'ITED, participle passive Benefited; advanced in interest or happiness; improved.

What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Matthew 16:26.

PROF'ITING, participle present tense Gaining interest or advantage; improving.

PROF'ITING, noun Gain; advantage; improvement.

That thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Timothy 4:15.

PROF'ITLESS, adjective Void of profit, gain or advantage.