You searched for: “affluent”
affluent
1. Having an abundance of material wealth; with flowing riches.
2. Generously supplied with money, property, or possessions; prosperous or rich.
3. A stream, or river, that flows into larger one; a tributary.
4. Etymology: "flowing", from Latin affluentem, affluens, present participle of affluere, "flow toward" from ad-, "to" + fluere, "to flow".

Word History

The metaphor of the tides that we find in the word abundance is also found in affluent. Latin affluere means "to flow to", from ad, "to", and fluere, "to flow".

From its present participle, English borrowed affluent, originally in the literal meaning "to flow toward". Its meaning broadened to "flow freely" or "abundantly". Then a figurative use developed, "flowing with riches, wealthy".

—Picturesque Word Origins; G. & C. Merriam Company;
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A; 1933; page 10.
This entry is located in the following units: -ent (page 2) fluct-, flucti-, -flux, flu-, flum-, -fluent, -fluence (page 1)
Word Entries containing the term: “affluent”
affluent rich *
This entry is located in the following unit: Pleonasms or Tautological Redundancies (page 2)
Word Entries at Get Words: “affluent”
affluent (AF loo uhnt, uh FLOO uhnt) (adjective)
1. In a truly affluent (wealthy) society, there's more than enough material needs for everyone.
2. He was described as an affluent (prosperous) person who is generously supplied with money, property, and possessions.
3. There is an affluent (stream) near our home that is ultimately flowing into the Mississippi River.

"It's Still Good to be Rich. Uncle Sam wants your money, and the crowd outside the gate wants your head. How to survive the populist revolt against affluence."

—An article title by Daniel Fisher with Steven Bertoni and Devon Pendleton;
in Forbes magazine, "Survivor's Guide for the Affluent" (cover); May 11, 2009; page 66.
This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group A + (page 4)