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sal·a·ry

(sălə-rē, sălrē)

n. pl. sal·a·ries

Fixed compensation for services, paid to a person on a regular basis.

[Middle English salarie, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin salārium, salary or stipend paid to a military or civil post holder (probably originally “money given to soldiers for buying salt and other such things, supplementing a grain ration”), from neuter of salārius, relating to salt, from sāl, salt; see sal- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. For the semantic development, compare Greek opsōnion, salary, wages, from opson, relish, fish, or other tasty food to be eaten as accompaniment to bread, and ōneisthai, to buy.]

sala·ried adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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