(fairly) new (but unlisted) "benefits"

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Fri, Aug 05, 2011 at 10:37:55AM -0400, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>
> Successively telling GBooks Advanced Search to
> search before xxxx for "[best] friend[s] with
> benefits" (quoted; all 4 combinations) arrives at
> just 9 hits before Dec 31, 2003, the earliest of
> which (that appears relevant) is alleged to be
> Apr 21, 1997, in New York Magazine, Vol. 30, No.
> 15, page 106, a personal ad (a believable source, surely):
>
> "Wanted: Best Friend With Benefits­ I'm an
> outgoing, fun, family-oriented 33-year-old (hell
> of a catch), with a lot to offer.
> Nonanorexic-looking Jewish female, living in
> central NJ. I have a lot of plans for the spring
> and summer ... I realized I was missing the
> special guy to share the good times with. You
> should be 31-40, just a bit romantic, ...

But in context this looks like it means 'committed romantic/sexual
partner who is also a close friend', i.e. emphasizing the fact that the
advertiser is looking for someone who will be not only a lover but also
a close friend. She's not just looking for a friend to sleep with on
occasion.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED

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