stipend

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)pend-“to pull; to spin; to stretch”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*steyp-“erect; stiff”
3. Latin · derived fromstīpendium“contribution; dues; impost, tax; tribute; military pay or stipend; military service”
4. Old French · derived fromstipende
5. Middle English · inherited fromstipend
6. English todaystipend

The noun is derived from Late Middle English stipend, stipende (“salary, wage”) [and other forms], from Old French stipende, stipendie, from Latin stīpendium (“contribution; dues; impost, tax; tribute; military pay or stipend; military service”), from *stipipendium, *stippendium, from stips (“alms; contribution, donation, gift”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steyp- (“erect; stiff”)) + pendere (the present active infinitive of pendō (“to cause to hang down or suspend; to weigh, weigh out; (hence) to pay”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to pull; to spin; to stretch”)) + -ium (suffix forming abstract nouns). The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates * Italian stipendio * Portuguese estipêndio * Spanish estipendio

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 17th c. Money which is earned; an income.
• 16th–19th c. A one-off payment for a service provided.