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  1. cui bono love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Utility, advantage, or self-interest considered as the determinant of value or motivation.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. For whose benefit? popularly, but incorrectly, for what use or end?

Wiktionary

  1. n. The principle that the ultimate initiator of an action is likely he who stands to gain from the action.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. Lit., for whose benefit; incorrectly understood, it came to be used in the sense, of what good or use; and hence, (what) purpose; object; specif., the ultimate object of life.

Etymologies

  1. From Latin cui est bono? ("To whom is it a benefit?") (Wiktionary)
  2. From Latin cui bonō (est), for whom (it is) of advantage : cui, dative of quī, who + bonō, dative of bonum, advantage. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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  • jmjarmstrong JM contemplates his status update and the niggling phrase 'cui bono' keeps coming to mind Feb 1, 2010

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‘cui bono’ has been looked up 1831 times, loved by 1 person, added to 17 lists, commented on 1 time, and is not a valid Scrabble word.