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Pittance: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ต
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pittance

 

[ หˆpษชtษ™ns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

salary, payment

A pittance is a very small or inadequate amount of money, often referring to a meager wage or payment. This term is often used to express dissatisfaction with the amount of money earned for work, highlighting the notion that the compensation is insufficient to meet basic needs. The use of 'pittance' emphasizes the stark contrast between what one deserves and what one actually receives in terms of payment.

Synonyms

crumbs, insufficiency, minimum, peanuts, trifle

Examples of usage

  • After years of hard work, he only received a pittance as his salary.
  • The interns were paid a pittance for all the hours they put in.
  • Many workers complain that their wages are just a pittance compared to their efforts.

Translations

Translations of the word "pittance" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น esmola

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค›เฅ‹เคŸเฅ€ เคฐเคพเคถเคฟ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Almosen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ uang receh

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผั–ะทะตั€ะฝะฐ ััƒะผะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ochล‚ap

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ใšใ‹ใช้‡‘้ก

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท une pitance

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ miseria

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท aรงlฤฑk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์กฐ๊ธˆ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ู„ูŠู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ miserie

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ miseria

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅพฎ่–„็š„ๆ”ถๅ…ฅ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ mizerna vsota

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lรญtil fjรกrhagslegur stuรฐningur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะท า“ะฐะฝะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒœแƒแƒฆแƒ“แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kiรงik mษ™blษ™ฤŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ miseria

Etymology

The word 'pittance' derived from the Middle English term 'pitance', which referred to a small allowance of food or money. Its origins can be traced back to the late Latin 'pietantia', meaning a payment to a religious institution or for temporal needs. Over time, the meaning evolved to signify any small or meager payment, often laden with a connotation of unfairness or insufficiency. By the 14th century, it was commonly used in English to describe trivial amounts of money provided for labor or services, reflecting a longstanding recognition of economic inequality. The enduring nature of the term speaks to social issues related to wages and fairness, remaining relevant in discussions about labor rights and compensation.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,871, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.