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" (source of Sanskrit pasu- "cattle," Gothic faihu "money, fortune," Old English feoh "cattle, money").
Livestock was the measure of wealth in the ancient world, and Rome, like any other culture, was essentially a farmer's community. That pecunia was literally "wealth in cattle" was still apparent to Cicero. For a possible parallel sense development in Old English, see fee, and compare, evolving in the other direction, cattle. Compare also Welsh tlws "jewel," cognate with Irish tlus "cattle," connected via notion of "valuable thing," and, perhaps emolument.
雙語例句
1. She denies obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
她否認通過欺騙手段獲得經濟利益。
來自辭典例句
2. Some compromise between the psychological and pecuniary consideration must therefore be sought.
因之,我們不得不在心理上的考慮和金錢上的考慮兩者之間謀取折衷妥協.
來自辭典例句
3. She seemed averse to being under pecuniary obligations.
她似乎不愿在經濟上仰人鼻息.
來自辭典例句
4. Why not make a pecuniary sacrifice?
為什么不能在用度上緊縮一點 呢 ?
來自辭典例句
5. She is so independent that she refused all pecuniary aid.