dividend
UK: ˈdɪvɪdɛnd | US: ˈdɪvɪdɛnd
n. a sum of money paid regularly by a company to its shareholders out of its profits
n. a number to be divided by another number (mathematics)
n. a benefit or advantage resulting from an action or policy
The word "dividend" originates from the Latin dividendum ("thing to be divided"), derived from dividere ("to divide"). It entered English in the 15th century via French, initially used in arithmetic to denote a number to be divided. By the 17th century, it expanded to finance, reflecting the "portion" of profits distributed to shareholders. The morpheme divide preserves its core meaning of separation, while -end functions as a noun-forming suffix, akin to Latin -endum. This dual-root structure logically connects mathematical division and financial distribution.
The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share.
In the equation 20 ÷ 5 = 4, 20 is the dividend.
Higher education is often seen as a dividend of long-term economic investment.
Shareholders eagerly await the annual dividend payout.
The peace treaty brought dividends in the form of increased trade.