Forms: (1–2 bi-, behóf,) 3–5 (dative) bihoue, 4–5 bihove, 4–6 behoue, 4–7 behove, 6–7 behoove, 6–8 behoofe, 6– behoof. (Also 4–5 bihufe, 4–6 byhove, behuf, 5 byhoff, beofe, 5–6 behofe, -houfe, 6 Sc. behowe, -hufe, -huif, 7 behoolfe.) [OE. *bihóf ‘utility,’ occurring in the deriv. bihóf-líc useful, necessary; = OFris. bihof, Du. behoef, MHG. bihuof, mod.G. behuf, of same meaning; f. *bihóf, pa. t. of Orig. Teut. *bihafjan, MHG. beheben ‘to take, hold, receive,’ f. bi-, BE- + hafjan, OE. hębban, pa. t. hóf, ‘to HEAVE, raise,’ orig. ‘to take up, take,’ cogn. w. L. cap(i)ĕre. The original sense seems to have been either, ‘taking in, reception, acquisition,’ whence ‘gain, advantage,’ or ‘taking away, taking to oneself, taking the use of,’ whence ‘use.’ See also the synonyms BIHEVE, BIHOFTHE.]
1. Use, benefit, advantage. Chiefly in To, for, on, (formerly into, till) (the) behoof of. (In, on behoof of, are due to confusion with behalf.) pl. rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 1050. Ȝe ȝeorneð … mine leoue dohter to swa laðe mannes bihoue [1250 bihofe].
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 70. He ordaynd, for mans byhufe, Heven and herth.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 517. [Douglas] held no thing till his behuf.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 15. Upon the hond to were a sho … Accordeth nought to the behove Of resonable mannes use.
1482. Marg. Paston, in Lett., 861, III. 286. I bequeth an C marc … to the use and byhoff of the seid William Paston.
1483. Caxton, Cato, E ij b. Alle thynges shal come to your behoufe in habundaunce.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., xx. Londes … which be … to his use or behove had.
c. 1530. More, De quat. Noviss., Wks. 93. For whose vse and behoofe thei kepe it.
1532. Hervet, Xenophon’s Househ. (1768), 28. Delyuered it vnto you to kepe for bothe our behoues.
1549. Olde, Erasm. Par. 1 Tim. iii. 1. [A bishop is] one that careth for ye commodities and behoufes of others.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 7. In behove of the publique weal.
1611. Bible, Pref., 5. For the behoofe and edifying of the vnlearned.
1625. Milton, Death Fair Inf., vii. Which careful Jove in nature’s true behoof Took up. Ibid. (1667), P. L., II. 982. No mean recompence it brings To your behoof.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 365. To the use and behoof of A and his heirs.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. VII. 35. Taking towns for his own behoof.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep. (1861), I. 31. Fines are imposed for the behoof of the count.
1857. Miss Winkworth, Tauler’s Life & Serm., 386. They devote all their prayers … to their own behoof.
[1868. F. Paget, Lucretia, 207. The parlour had been turned into a bedroom on my behoof.]
† 2. ? What it behoves one to do; obligation, duty. Obs. rare.
1594. Southwell, M. Magd. Fun. Teares, 161. It considereth behoofe more than benefit, and what in duty it should, not what indeed it can.
† 3. ? A gift for behoof of the recipient, a ‘benefit’ or benefaction, a gratuity, a ‘tip.’ Obs. rare.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., 529. No offices should be sold for money … nor no behoves taken for captaincies of counties.
