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“pecuniary”
pecuniary (adjective), more pecuniary, most pecuniary
1. Of or pertaining to legal tender or money: Hank had pecuniary problems and so he couldn't pay his debts.
2. Consisting of or referring to wealth or monetary payments: Mark's creation of the great computer program resulted in his receiving an increase of his salary as a pecuniary reward.
3. With reference to a crime, violation, etc. that involves a financial penalty: There was a pecuniary fine for Jim because he hit a parked car and drove away without getting in touch with the owner.
4. Etymology: from Latin pecuniarius, "of, or pertaining to money"; derivative of pecunia, "property, money"; from pecu(s), "cattle"; derivative of pecu, "flock" or "herd".
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2. Consisting of or referring to wealth or monetary payments: Mark's creation of the great computer program resulted in his receiving an increase of his salary as a pecuniary reward.
3. With reference to a crime, violation, etc. that involves a financial penalty: There was a pecuniary fine for Jim because he hit a parked car and drove away without getting in touch with the owner.
4. Etymology: from Latin pecuniarius, "of, or pertaining to money"; derivative of pecunia, "property, money"; from pecu(s), "cattle"; derivative of pecu, "flock" or "herd".
The historical background of "money" or pecuniary terms.
In the nomadic period of Indo-European civilization, before money in precious metal or other compact symbols was thought of, a man's wealth was reckoned in flocks and herds.
The Latin "pecus" means "cattle", and the derivative "pecunia" originally meant, "property in cattle". As civilization advanced and wealth was represented by many things other than cattle, the old word was kept with the broader new meaning.
When "money" was invented and adopted as a measurement of wealth, the word "pecunia" took on the new meaning of "money". Derived from this was the adjective "pecuniarius", "relating to or consisting of money", from which English gives us pecuniary.
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Word Entries at Get Words:
“pecuniary”
Consisting of or given or exacted in money or monetary payments; with reference to a crime, violation, etc. involving a fine or penalty of money. (2)
This entry is located in the following unit:
Word a Day Revisited Index of Cartoons Illustrating the Meanings of Words
(page 59)