bounty English · revision 1610

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbaʊnti/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbaʊn(t)i/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bounte|t=goodness]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) [[der|xno|bunté]] and [[fro|bonte|t=goodness]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la|bonitās|t=goodness]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|bonus|t=good]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The ending is the same as in English ''-ty''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A gift or favour freely given (late 13th century),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and goodness or virtue (about 1300).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Middle English word covered goodness, valour and generosity of every kind,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) but most of those senses are obsolete.^(OED 1989) The sense of a gift from a sovereign or the state^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) led to a payment to military recruits (1702),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a reward for capturing or killing a criminal or enemy (1764),^(Etymonline) and one for killing dangerous animals (1847).^(Etymonline) ''Bounty hunter'' dates from 1893, first of wild animals.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1250 – a thing generously bestowed.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – goodness or virtue, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1508 – ''bountiful''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1702 – a payment to recruits.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1764 – a reward for capturing or killing an enemy or criminal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1864 – ''bounty-jumper''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1893 – ''bounty hunter''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Generosity in giving; [[liberality]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something given generously; a gift.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[reward]] or payment, especially from a government, as for capturing an [[outlaw]], killing harmful animals or enlisting in the army.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A plentiful yield, especially of a crop.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bountiful]]

+ * [[bounty hunter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[boon]]

+ * [[bounteous]]

+ * [[bonus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers to ''bonus'' for a synonym discussion and gives ''present'', ''benefaction'', ''munificence'', ''liberality'', ''charity'' and ''beneficence'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}