treasure
UK: ˈtreʒə | US: ˈtreʒər
n. valuable objects, especially jewels, gold, or silver
vt. to keep or regard something as precious
treasure = treas<store> + ure<noun suffix>
- treas<store>: Derived from Old French tresor, ultimately from Greek thēsauros (storehouse, treasure). The morpheme retains the core idea of "storing value."
- ure<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns indicating a function or result (e.g., pleasure, measure).
Etymology Origin:
The word treasure traces back to Greek thēsauros (a storehouse for valuables), borrowed into Latin as thesaurus, then Old French tresor. The English spelling simplified the Old French form while preserving the root treas- and adding the noun suffix -ure. The evolution reflects the concept of accumulated wealth, both literal (gold, jewels) and metaphorical (cherished things).
The pirates buried their treasure on a remote island.
She treasures the handwritten letters from her grandmother.
The museum exhibits ancient treasures from Egypt.
His kindness is a treasure to everyone who knows him.
The library is a treasure trove of rare books.