Word of the Week - SALARY

Today's word – SALARY

Pronunciation – sal-uh-ree

Word type - noun

Definition – the regular pay a worker receives for doing their job, especially for office work

Word origin-
Middle English, from Anglo-French - In Roman times, part of a soldier’s weekly payment was given in salt. The Latin word for salt is ‘salarium’. The saying, ‘worth your salt’ means that you are so capable and efficient that you are thought to deserve your pay.
Salt was a very precious commodity in ancient times, due to the cost involved in its extraction and the high cost of carrying it by river, sea and over land. Traders became very wealthy through the commodity of salt. It was primarily used in the preservation of food, in times long before refrigeration was invented. Salt taxes were introduced by governments and huge revenues were raised.
Prior to the 1700s/1800s and the growth in industrialisation, workers were paid by the hour or by the day. It was at this time that progressive companies began to pay a salary to its workers, especially for office workers, where work could not necessarily be measured by numbers of items produced.

Sample sentence - The worker was paid a monthly salary.

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