Word of the Day

Sunday February 28, 2010

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pecuniary [pih-KYOO-nee-air-ee]

adjective

1. Relating to money; monetary.
2. Consisting of money or monetary payments.
3. Involving money as a fine or penalty.

• Transforming state government must require lawmakers to disclose all private relationships with outside business associates. It would be naive to assume that personal gain has no influence on lawmakers' voting habits, but the truth is that no overseeing entity has the necessary information or resources to determine when the pecuniary interests of legislators may conflict with their duties as representatives.
  Jack F. Quinn III, "To regain trust, Albany needs powerful new rules", Buffalo News, Jan 9, 2010
• We live in a material world. The ringing of the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange is broadcast worldwide each weekday, while church bells largely fall on deaf ears. But the pecuniary and ecumenical will intersect briefly on Monday as the management of FaithShares takes the podium at the NYSE to kick off the session. Their launch of the first religiously based exchange-traded funds is the latest development in an investment phenomenon.
  Spencer Jakab, "Wages of sin bring higher returns", FT.com, Dec 18, 2009
• But the literary men of that golden age got their pecuniary reward not from the public, but from patrons.
  Jean de La Fontaine (July 8, 1621 - 1695) A French fabulist and poet. Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks

Origin of the Word

Pecuniary, approximately 1500, derives from Latin pecuniarius "pertaining to money," from pecunia "money, property, wealth," from pecu "cattle, flock."