wage
UK: weɪdʒ | US: weɪdʒ
n. a fixed regular payment, typically paid daily or weekly, for labor or services
vt. to carry on (a war or campaign)
wage = wag<pledge> + e (historical suffix)
- wag (from Old North French wage "pledge, security," derived from Frankish wadi "pledge")
- e (a common suffix in Middle English, no standalone meaning)
Etymology Origin:
The word "wage" traces back to the Old North French wage, meaning "pledge" or "security," which itself came from Frankish wadi. Originally, it referred to a pledge or guarantee (often in the context of payment for services). Over time, the meaning shifted to denote the payment itself, especially for labor. The verb sense ("to wage war") evolved from the idea of "pledging" or "staking" effort or resources in a conflict.
The workers demanded a higher wage for their overtime hours.
She earns a modest wage as a freelance writer.
The company waged a lengthy legal battle against its competitors.
Minimum wage laws vary significantly across countries.
Historically, soldiers were often paid a wage in addition to food and lodging.