Pecuniary first appeared in English in the early 16th century and comes from the Latin word pecunia, which means "money." Both this root and Latin peculium, which means "private property," are related to the Latin noun for cattle, pecus. Among Latin speakers (as among many other populations, past and present) cattle were viewed as a trading commodity, and property was often valued in terms of cattle. Pecunia has also given us impecunious, a word meaning "having little or no money," while peculium gave us peculate, a synonym for embezzle. In peculium you might also recognize the word peculiar, which originally meant "characteristic of only one" or "distinctive" before acquiring its current meaning of "strange."
that makes good pecuniary sense the judge recused himself from the case because he had a pecuniary interest in the company that was being sued
Recent Examples on the WebThe policy requires plan sponsors for state and local pension funds to evaluate investments only on pecuniary issues, prohibiting considerations of environmental or social factors. George Strobel, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 He is charged with capital murder during a first-degree burglary, and murder for pecuniary gain - meaning that he was paid to commit the slaying. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 May 2022 He is charged with capital murder during a first-degree burglary, and murder for pecuniary gain - meaning that he was paid to commit the slaying. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 May 2022 He is charged with capital murder during a first-degree burglary, and murder for pecuniary gain - meaning that he was paid to commit the slaying. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 May 2022 He is charged with capital murder during a first-degree burglary, and murder for pecuniary gain - meaning that he was paid to commit the slaying. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 May 2022 But the board’s latest move betrays hesitation that shareholders might not put the same value on non-pecuniary factors. Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 8 June 2022 He is charged with capital murder during a first-degree burglary, and murder for pecuniary gain - meaning that he was paid to commit the slaying. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 May 2022 He is charged with capital murder during a first-degree burglary, and murder for pecuniary gain - meaning that he was paid to commit the slaying. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin pecuniarius, from pecunia money — more at fee