I.to be useful or of use, to do good, benefit, profit.
I. In gen., constr. with dat., a subjectclause, or absol., rarely with ad or in and acc.: sibi prodesse, Enn. ap. Cic. Fam. 7, 6, 2 (Trag. v. 310 Vahl.); cf.: “qui nec sibi nec alteri prosunt,” Cic. Off. 2, 10, 36: “multis,” id. Lael. 1, 4: “nihil tibi litterae meae proderunt,” id. Fam. 2, 17, 7.—With subj.-clause: “multum prodest ea quae metuuntur ipsa contemnere,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 30, 64: “iis carum et jucundum esse maxime prodest,” Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 5, 16; cf. id. ib. 11, 43: “quid mihi fingere prodest?” Ov. M. 13, 935: “nec quicquam tibi prodest Aërias tentasse domos,” Hor. C. 1, 28, 4; id. Epod. 17, 60; id. S. 1, 2, 113: “quae scire magis juvat quam prodest,” Sen. Ep. 106, 3.—Absol.: “prodesse aequom est,” Ter. Ad. 5, 9, 11: “quorum altera prosunt, Cin. Fin. 3, 21, 69: studia aliena ac nihil profutura,” Sall. J. 1, 5: “magis tamen Menenianum profuit judicium,” Liv. 2, 52; Quint. 4, 1, 3; 11, 1, 9: “quae nocuere sequar, fugiam quae profore credam,” Hor. Ep. 1, 8, 11: “aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poëtae,” id. A. P. 333: “tu tantum corpore prodes, Nos animo,” Ov. M. 13, 365.— With ad or in and acc.: “id mirum, quantum profuit ad concordiam civitatis,” Liv. 2, 1: “in id quoque prodest, ut, etc.,” Quint. 8, 3, 9: “in commune,” id. 6, 1, 7.—With abl.: “constantia multum prodest in amore,” Prop. 2, 26, 27.—
II. In partic., of medicines, to be good, be beneficial: “fabam voci prodesse,” Plin. 22, 25, 69, § 141: “balineum assumo, quia prodest,” Plin. Ep. 7, 21, 3: “ad tormina,” Plin. 22, 25, 63, § 131: “contra ignem sacrum,” id. 20, 7, 25, § 59.—With inf.: “contra anginas tritum in poscā gargarizare prodest,” Plin. 20, 6, 23, § 52.