fee English · revision 4684

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=frk *fehuōd}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fiː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|fe]], from [[xno|fee]], Old French fié, fieu, variants of [[fro|fief]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|feudum]], feodum,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) probably from Frankish *fehu-ōd “cattle-property, payment-estate”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The first part is cognate with [[inh|ang|feoh|t=cattle, property, money]], which merged with it in Middle English,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*fehu]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) also the source of German Vieh “cattle” and Gothic faihu “money”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*peḱu-|alt=*peku-|t=cattle]], the source of Latin pecus “cattle” and pecūnia “money”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[fief]], [[feudal]] and [[pecuniary]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In feudal law, an estate in land held on condition of homage to a lord: 1292 in the OED,^(OED 1989) probably before 1300 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) The Old English feoh meant cattle, movable property and money from the 9th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word belongs to the feudal system: from a fief it developed through the right to an office or pension, a tribute to a superior, and a reward, to the modern sense.^(Cresswell 2021) Heritable offices of service to a lord are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and ''fee simple'', absolute ownership, from the late 14th century, as opposed to ''fee tail'', inheritance limited to certain heirs (early 15th century).^(Etymonline) A payment for professional services is first recorded in Chaucer's Prologue to the Canterbury Tales (1387–1395).^(Barnhart 1988) A charge for a privilege, such as an entrance fee, and a tip are later senses.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 870 – Old English feoh, money.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1292 – a feudal estate.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – ''fee simple''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1387–95 – a payment for services.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – ''fee tail''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A payment for professional services, such as those of a doctor or [[lawyer]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sum charged for a right or service: ''an entrance fee'', ''school fees''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' An inherited or heritable estate in land.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(historical)'' In [[feudal]] law, land granted by a lord to a vassal; a [[fief]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To give a fee or tip to, or to hire.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[feeless]]

+ * [[fee-for-service]]

+ * [[fee-splitting]]

+ * [[fee simple]]

+ * [[fee tail]]

+ * [[finder's fee]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[feoffee]]

+ * [[fief]]

+ * [[feudal]]

+ * [[pecuniary]]

+ * [[peculiar]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}