Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cui bono

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.65 in modern English

Syllables: cui bono
IPA

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"If the principle of cui bono is applied, it is evident that the gainers were the party of the triumvirs, whose popularity would be increased by a belief being created that their opponents the Optimates were prepared to adopt extreme measures to get rid of them."

Etymology

From Cicero’s Pro Sexto Roscio Amerino, 84 & 86: Latin cui bonō fuisset (“to whom it would have benefited”), a so-called double dative construction.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: cui bonō fuisset

Usage

Uncountable

Phrases

follow the money

Frequently Paired Words

follow the money

Synonyms

cui prodest

Questions

What does cui bono mean?: The principle that the ultimate initiator of an action is likely the person who stands to gain from the action.
Where does cui bono come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce cui bono

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