Behalf
/bɪˈhæf/noun
A person’s interest, advantage, or support; often used in the phrase “on behalf of.”
Did you know?In Old English, *be half* literally meant “by the side of,” and the modern phrase “on behalf of” preserves that old idea of standing at someone’s side as their representative.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skel-
“To split, separate”
Old English
OE
be healfe
“By the side of; in the part or interest of”
Middle English
ME
be halve
“On the side of; for the benefit of”
14th Century
English
behalfe
“Side, part, interest, advantage”
Modern English
English
behalf
“Interest, advantage, or representation in the phrase “on behalf of””