wage
1. wage \'wa-j\ vb [ME wagen to pledge, give as security, fr. ONF wagier,
fr. wage)X : to engage in or carry on {~ war ~ a campaign} : to be in
process of beig waged
2. wage n [ME, pledge, wage, fr. ONF, of Gmc origin; akin to Goth wadi
pledge - m]ore at WED 1a: a payment usu. of money for labor or services
usu. according to contrac t and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis pl
1b: the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in
production 2: RECOMPENSE, REWARD - usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in
constr. {the ~s of sin is death -Rom 6:23 (RSV)MPAY, HIRE, EMOLUMENT mean
the price paid for services or labor. WAGE or WAGES applies to an amount
paid daily or weekly esp. for chiefly physical labor; SALARY and STIPEND
apply to a fixed amount paid for services requiring training or special
ability; FEE applies to the price asked or paid for the services of a
physician, lawyer, artist, or other professional; PAY may apply to wages or
salaries but often specif. to those of the military services; HIRE is
archaic for WAGE or PAY; EMOLUMENT may suggest rewards, other than pay, of
one's work or office SYN syn WAGE or WAGES, SALARY, STIPEND, FEE, (