Alexander Schmidt, Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary

Profit, vb. 1) tr. to be of use to, to benefit, to advantage: “these offices shall p. thee,” Sonn. 77, 14. Tp. I, 2, 313. “this nor hurts him nor --s you,” Meas. IV, 3, 128. “ill blows the wind that --s nobody,” H6C II, 5, 55.
2) intr. to be proficient, to make progress, to improve; intellectually or morally: “here have I made thee more p. than other princess can,” Tp. I, 2, 172. “my son --s nothing in the world at his book,” Wiv. IV, 1, 15. “correction and instruction must both work, ere this rude beast will p.” Meas. III, 2, 34. “their daughters p. very greatly under you,” LLL IV, 2, 77. “p. you in what you read?” Shr. IV, 2, 6. “by my foes I p. in the knowledge of myself,” Tw. V, 21. “God give him the ears of --ing,” H4A I, 2, 171. “well read and --ed in strange concealments,” III, 1, 166. “has not the boy --ed?” H4B II, 2, 90. to p. by == to be instructed by, to learn from: “men their creation mar in --ing by them,” Meas. II, 4, 128 (men spoil women by that which these learn from them). “if that an eye may p. by a tongue, then should I know you by description,” As IV, 3, 84. “I p. not by thy talk,” Troil. V, 1, 16.