premium English · revision 5889

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1601|origins=la praemium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpriː.mi.əm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|praemium|t=booty; profit, reward]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from prae “before” (see [[pre-]]) and emere “to buy”, originally “to take”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*h₁em-|alt=*em-|t=to take, distribute]].^(Etymonline) Compare [[redeem]] and [[pre-empt]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A reward or prize given for a specific act: 1601 in Barnhart, the OED and MWU.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The amount paid for an insurance contract is from 1622 in the OED and the 1660s in Etymonline, which takes it from Italian premio;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Barnhart cites Blount's ''Glossographia'' (1656).^(Barnhart 1988) A sum added to a price, wage or interest is from 1695,^(OED 1989) and a fee paid for instruction in a trade from 1765.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) ''At a premium'', at more than the usual value, is from 1828,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to put a premium on something from 1907.^(OED 1989) The adjective, of superior quality, is first attested in 1925, of butter.^(Etymonline) Something given free or cheaply to encourage buying is a later commercial sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1601 – a reward, prize.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1622 – an insurance premium.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1695 – a sum added to a price or wage.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1765 – an apprentice's fee.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1828 – ''at a premium''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1925 – superior in quality.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An amount paid regularly for an [[insurance]] policy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An amount paid in addition to the usual price, wage or rate; a [[bonus]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something offered free or cheaply as an inducement to buy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[prize]] or award.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(at a premium)'' Scarce and highly valued; above the usual price.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of superior quality or value: ''premium beer''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonpremium]]

+ * [[superpremium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[redeem]]

+ * [[pre-empt]]

+ * [[example]]

+ * [[exempt]]

+ * [[prompt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}