pecuniary

[ pi-kyoo-nee-er-ee ]

/ pɪˈkyu niˌɛr i /

adjective

of or relating to money: pecuniary difficulties.

consisting of or given or exacted in money or monetary payments: pecuniary tributes.

(of a crime, violation, etc.) involving a money penalty or fine.

Nearby words

Origin of pecuniary

1495–1505; < Latin pecūniārius, derivative of pecūnia property, money (pecūn-, derivative of pecū flock (see peculiar), with -ūn- as in tribūna tribune¹, fortūna fortune, etc. + -ia -ia); see -ary

SYNONYMS FOR pecuniary

1, 2. See financial.

Related formspe·cu·ni·ar·i·ly

[pi-kyoo-nee-air-i-lee] /pɪˌkyu niˈɛər ɪ li/, adverbnon·pe·cu·ni·ar·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pecuniarily

From the social standpoint he had nothing to desire, and pecuniarily he was independent.
Dust|Julian Hawthorne
How much better to do it while we can, lest the war ere long render us pecuniarily unable to do it!
The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Six|Abraham Lincoln
It is in this way that the success of Renan, pecuniarily speaking, was achieved.
Letters to an Unknown|Prosper Mrime
“Pecuniarily speaking, I am rich,” returned the old man with cheerfulness.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 7 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson

"I had no expectation that you would assist me pecuniarily," said Richard, after a moment.
The Stillwater Tragedy|Thomas Bailey Aldrich

British Dictionary definitions for pecuniarily

pecuniary

/ (pɪˈkjuːnɪərɪ) /

adjective

consisting of or relating to money

law (of an offence) involving a monetary penalty

Derived Formspecuniarily, adverb

Word Origin for pecuniary

C16: from Latin pecūniāris, from pecūnia money

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pecuniarily

pecuniary

adj.

c.1500, from Latin pecuniarius "pertaining to money," from pecunia "money, property, wealth," from pecu "cattle, flock," from PIE root *peku- "wealth, movable property, livestock" (cf. Sanskrit pasu- "cattle," Gothic faihu "money, fortune," Old English feoh "cattle, money").

Livestock was the measure of wealth in the ancient world. For a possible parallel sense development in Old English, see fee, and cf., evolving in the other direction, cattle. Cf. also Welsh tlws "jewel," cognate with Irish tlus "cattle," connected via notion of "valuable thing."