Make Your Point > Archived Issues > PECUNIARY
Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.
explore the archives:
Pecuniary means monetary or financial: having to do with money. But unlike those synonyms, pecuniary is based on the Latin word for "cattle," the idea being that the more cattle you have, the richer you are.
See how many of these other wealth-related words you can recall:
- A generous gift of money can be called a lar_____.
- To cheat people out of their money is to b___ them.
- People who'll do anything if you pay them enough are v____.
make your point with...
"PECUNIARY"
Pecuniary things are related to money.
Pronunciation:
pih KYOO nee air ee
Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "a pecuniary thing."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was pecuniary.")
Other forms:
The adverb is "pecuniarily," but it's so ugly that I don't recommend using it.
How to use it:
Pick this word instead of "financial" or "monetary" when you need to be very formal. And when talking about money feels awkward, "pecuniary" works as a euphemism: a gentler word compared to the one you'd normally pick.
Talk about pecuniary arrangements, circumstances, or matters; pecuniary aspects of a situation; pecuniary successes or failures; pecuniary punishments or penalties; pecuniary benefits, compensation, or rewards; pecuniary aid or assistance; pecuniary interests or concerns; a pecuniary perspective or view; pecuniary motivation; pecuniary advantages or difficulties; pecuniary corruption; pecuniary independence, and so on.
examples:
The college is notorious for distributing scholarships and then revoking them mid-semester, leaving students in pecuniary distress.
My project is hardly a pecuniary success, but it brings me joy.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "pecuniary" means when you can explain it without saying "involving dollars" or "having to do with funds."
try it out:
What's something important but expensive that should be accomplished? Fill in the blank: "With some pecuniary aid, I/we/someone could _____."
Example: "With some pecuniary aid, our school district could expand its pre-kindergarten programs."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
This month, we're playing with KWIKORD, an addictive, challenging new word game for solo or group play, created by Wayne Ellice.
We're dipping our toes into the game this month, trying some simple challenges first and working our way toward harder tasks. (Check out my interview with the game's creator here, and order your own copy of the full version of KWIKORD here.) You'll see a sample answer to each puzzle the following day. Enjoy!
Yesterday, you took the letters CHNSOIEA and arranged them into as many words as possible while trying to reach all 4 corners within a 4x4 grid. We're multiplying the number of words we made by the number of corners we reached, trying for the maximum score of 32. There were lots of ways to do that. Here are two:
Try it again today with the letters BRSTAEOO. See if you can score 32 points by making 8 words and reaching all the corners. Draw three vertical and three horizontal lines on some scrap paper, and go for it!
review today's word:
1. The closest opposite of PECUNIARY is
A. UNAFFILIATED
B. DISABUSED
C. NONCOMMERCIAL
2. Even in the absence of pecuniary _____, you can be fined or even imprisoned for copyright infringement.
A. awareness
B. malice
C. gain
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. C
Pecuniary means monetary or financial: having to do with money. But unlike those synonyms, pecuniary is based on the Latin word for "cattle," the idea being that the more cattle you have, the richer you are.
"PECUNIARY" Pecuniary things are related to money. Part of speech:
The college is notorious for distributing scholarships and then revoking them mid-semester, leaving students in pecuniary distress.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "pecuniary" means when you can explain it without saying "involving dollars" or "having to do with funds."
What's something important but expensive that should be accomplished? Fill in the blank: "With some pecuniary aid, I/we/someone could _____."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. The closest opposite of PECUNIARY is
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com
|