earnings English · revision 6727

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1732}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɜːnɪŋz/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɝːnɪŋz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the plural of [[earning]], the verbal noun of [[earn]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The money one makes by work or investment: 1732.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English had [[m|ang|earnung]] for deserving, merit or reward, but Etymonline judges the modern word a new formation.^(Etymonline) In business, earnings are the profits of a company, as in ''earnings per share''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1732 – money earned.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Money earned by work; [[wage|alt=wages]] or [[salary]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The [[profit|alt=profits]] of a business, or gains from investments.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[retained earnings]]

+ * [[price-earnings ratio]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[earn]]

+ * [[earning]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}