bonus English · revision 5125

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1773|origins=la bonus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈbəʊ.nəs/, US /ˈboʊ.nəs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[la|bonus|t=good]], used in place of the neuter noun bonum “a good thing”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) probably first as a joke or by mistake in the slang of the London Stock Exchange.^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) Weekley called it “Stock Exchange Latin”.^(Etymonline) The Latin adjective is from Old Latin duenos,^(Barnhart 1988) from Proto-Italic *dw-eno-, probably from [[ine-pro|*dewh₂-|alt=*deu-|t=to do, perform; show favour]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[bounty]], [[bonny]] and [[boon]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Money or a benefit given as a premium or extra pay: 1773 in the OED, Etymonline and Barnhart, 1772 in MWU.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An extra dividend paid to shareholders from surplus profits is from 1808,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a gratuity paid to workers over their wages from 1863.^(OED 1989) Figurative uses, something welcome in addition, are from 1813.^(OED 1989) The verb, to give a bonus to, is from 1886.^(OED 1989) In United States history the ''Bonus Army'' was the veterans of the First World War who marched on Washington in 1932 to demand early payment of their service bonuses.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1773 – an extra payment.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1808 – an extra dividend.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1813 – figurative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – verb.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Money added to someone's usual pay as a reward.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something good that is more than was expected.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An extra dividend paid to shareholders.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bonus baby]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bounty]]

+ * [[boon]]

+ * [[bonny]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Bonus, bounty, premium, reward and gratuity all denote a form of extra payment, and bonus usually means money beyond what is normally due, given especially as a reward.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}