boon
noun

- something that is very helpful and improves the quality of life

Cambridge Dictionary

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ORIGIN

Late 12th century, ‘bone’ meant petition or prayer, from Old Norse 'bon'. By 1767, the sense gradually changed from ‘favour asked' to ‘a thing asked for' and then to ‘a good thing received, a benefit enjoyed’.

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A BOON FOR CURIOUS EYES?

While experimenting with radioactive substances one day, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered that several photographic plates stored in his laboratory had been unintentionally exposed. Roentgen correctly hypothesized that strange invisible rays were somehow responsible, but was uncertain about what to call them. His solution? He called them “X-rays.”

Critics feared that his “mysterious rays” would prove A BOON to peeping Toms (Voyeur, Spanner). Politicians and enterprising businessmen quickly sprang into action. A law introduced in New Jersey forbade the use of “X-ray opera glasses”, and merchants in London began selling X-ray-proof underwear.

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SYNONYMS

benediction, benefaction, benefit, betterment, blessing, BOON, bonanza, bounty, comfort, creature comfort, gift from on high, gift from the gods, godsend, grace, leg-up, loaves and fishes, lucky break, lucky strike, manna from heaven, mercy, money from heaven, pennies from heaven, pick-me-up, piece of good luck, pot of gold, saving grace, solace, treasure trove

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Practice OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“Smartphones have been A BOON for keeping in touch during the lockdown.”

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HERZLICHEN DANK  to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

Paul Smith