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perquisite
[ pur-kwuh-zit ]
/ ˈpɜr kwə zɪt /
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noun
an incidental payment, benefit, privilege, or advantage over and above regular income, salary, or wages: Among the president's perquisites were free use of a company car and paid membership in a country club.
a gratuity or tip.
something demanded or due as a particular privilege: homage that was once the perquisite of royalty.
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Origin of perquisite
1400–50; late Middle English <Medieval Latin perquīsītum something acquired, noun use of neuter of Latin perquīsītus (past participle of perquīrere to search everywhere for, inquire diligently). See per-, inquisitive
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perquisite
perquisite , prerequisiteWords nearby perquisite
perplexing, perplexity, per pro., per procurationem, perp walk, perquisite, Perrault, Perret, Perrier water, Perrin, Perrine
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use perquisite in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for perquisite
perquisite
/ (ˈpɜːkwɪzɪt) /
noun
an incidental benefit gained from a certain type of employment, such as the use of a company car
a customary benefit received in addition to a regular income
a customary tip
something expected or regarded as an exclusive right
Often (informal) shortened to: perk
Word Origin for perquisite
C15: from Medieval Latin perquīsītum an acquired possession, from Latin perquīrere to seek earnestly for something, from per- (thoroughly) + quaerere to ask for, seek
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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