profit à prendre
/ˈprɒfɪt ə ˈprɒ̃drə/
noun
Origin
Old French
profit + à + prendre — benefit + to + to take
Overview
Meaning Now
- A legal right to enter the land of another person to take natural resources (such as timber, minerals, or crops) from it.
Literal older meaning
profit to take
Language path
Old French → Law French → English
Earliest form
profit à prendre
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The term originates from the Norman-French language used in English courts following the Norman Conquest. It describes a non-possessory interest in land, distinguishing it from an easement, which allows for use (like a right of way) but not the removal of resources.
Evolution
- Old French
profit
“gain, advantage”
- Middle English
profit
“monetary gain”
- Modern English legal usage
profit à prendre
“right to harvest resources”
Retained as a term of art in common law jurisdictions.
Connections
Word parts
profit
root
gain
à
other
to
prendre
root
to take
Related across languages
French
prendre
to take
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Related to profit à prendre
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.