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treasure-trove

[trezh-er-trohv]
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noun
  1. anything of the nature of treasure or a treasury that one finds: Mother's attic was a treasure-trove of memorabilia.
  2. Law. any money, bullion, or the like, of unknown ownership, found hidden in the earth or any other place: in the absence of statutory provisions to the contrary it may be kept by the finder.
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Origin of treasure-trove

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French tresor trové found treasure. See treasure, trover
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

stockpileinventorycachetroveaccumulationbacklogabundancecumulationwealthagglomerationsupplyconglomerationreservoirtreasurerichesaggregationcollectiongarnerfundpile

Examples from the Web for treasure-trove

Historical Examples

  • There is something in the very thought of treasure-trove that unsettles the most sane.

    The Pirate of Panama

    William MacLeod Raine

  • Had you been my treasure-trove, there had been no 'perhaps' about it.

    The Golden Dog

    William Kirby

  • I presented my trophy and treasure-trove to the fairy-like Miss Wee-wee.

  • The man knew the law of the Sultan, by which he claimed all treasure-trove for himself.

    Our Little Turkish Cousin

    Mary Hazelton Wade

  • A metal belt of Saxon character was among this treasure-trove.

British Dictionary definitions for treasure-trove

treasure-trove

noun (in Britain)
  1. law valuable articles, such as coins, bullion, etc, found hidden in the earth or elsewhere and of unknown ownership. Such articles become the property of the Crown, which compensates the finder if the treasure is declared. In 1996 treasure was defined as any item over 300 years old and containing more than 5% precious metal
  2. anything similarly discovered that is of value
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Word Origin

C16: from Anglo-French tresor trové treasure found, from Old French tresor treasure + trover to find
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