pecuniary
[pi-kyoo-nee-er-ee]
- 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.
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Origin of pecuniary
Synonyms
See more synonyms for pecuniary on Thesaurus.com1, 2. See financial.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for pecuniary
Contemporary Examples
Yet according to Hamilton, “it was quickly apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would be acceptable.”
Many Democrats have found the pecuniary power of Republican Super PACS highly intimidating.
Historical Examples
I assure you, my dear Sir, that you truly hurt me with your pecuniary parcel.
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
The corporation for pecuniary gain has neither body nor soul.
The Railroad QuestionWilliam Larrabee
Its only aim is pecuniary gain, to which it subordinates all else.
The Railroad QuestionWilliam Larrabee
It had better not be based on pecuniary obligations; these more often mar than make a friendship.
LysisPlato
I suppose you know his pecuniary condition perfectly; has he money?
Dr. SevierGeorge W. Cable
pecuniary
- consisting of or relating to money
- law (of an offence) involving a monetary penalty
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin pecūniāris, from pecūnia money
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for 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."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper