behalf

[bih-haf, -hahf] /bɪˈhæf, -ˈhɑf/
Idioms
1.
in / on behalf of, as a representative of or a proxy for:
On behalf of my colleagues, I address you tonight.
2.
in / on someone's behalf, in the interest or aid of (someone):
He interceded in my behalf.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English; Middle English bihalve, earlier as adv. and preposition with the sense “near(by),” orig. as prepositional phrase bi halve on one side; see be-, by, half
British Dictionary definitions for in behalf of

behalf

/bɪˈhɑːf/
noun
1.
interest, part, benefit, or respect (only in the phrases on (someone's) behalf, on or US and Canadian in behalf of, in this (or that) behalf)
Usage note
On behalf of is sometimes wrongly used where on the part of is intended. The distinction is that on behalf of someone means `for someone's benefit' or `representing someone', while on the part of someone can be roughly paraphrased as `by someone'. So, the following example is incorrect: another act of apparent negligence, this time not on behalf of the company itself, but on behalf of its banker, when what was meant was there was negligence by the company's banker
Word Origin
Old English be halfe from be by + halfe side; compare Old Norse af halfu
Word Origin and History for in behalf of

behalf

n.

c.1300, behalve (with dative suffix), from Old English (him) be healfe "by (his) side," and on (his) healfe "on (his) side," from healfe "side" (see half).

Idioms and Phrases with in behalf of

in behalf of

.
Also, on behalf of.
.
For someone else, as someone's agent or representative. For example, In behalf of the board, I want to thank you for your help, or Joan was speaking on behalf of the entire staff. [ c. 1300 ]
.
For someone's benefit or interest, as in He was collecting the dues in my behalf. [ Late 1500s ]
Some authorities insist that in behalf of be used only to mean “for someone's benefit” and on behalf of only to mean “as someone's agent.” In practice, however, the terms are so often used interchangeably that this distinction no longer has a basis.

behalf

see: in behalf of