Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-HOOF', n. [Sax. behofian, to want, to be necessary, to be expedient; hence, to be a duty; D. behoeven, to need; Ger. behuf, behoof; Dan. behöver, to need, to lack; behov, need, necessity, sufficiency, maintenance, that is, things needed; Sw. behof, need; behofwa, to need.]

1. Radically, need, necessity; whence, by an easy analogy, the word came to signify that which supplies want. Hence, in present usage,
2. That which is advantageous; advantage; profit; benefit. No mean recompense it brings to your behoof. – Milton.