tributary
|trib-u-tar-y|
🇺🇸
/ˈtrɪbjəˌtɛri/
🇬🇧
/ˈtrɪbjʊtəri/
branching stream
Etymology
'tributary' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'tributarius,' where 'tributum' meant 'tribute.'
'tributarius' transformed into the Old French word 'tributaire,' and eventually became the modern English word 'tributary' through Middle English.
Initially, it meant 'paying tribute,' but over time it evolved to also mean 'a stream flowing into a larger body of water.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake.
The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River.
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Adjective 1
paying tribute to another to acknowledge submission, to obtain protection, or to purchase peace.
The tributary states were required to send annual gifts to the empire.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41