Word Study
earn
CIDE DICTIONARY
earn, n.
See Ern, n. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
earn, v. t. [AS. earnian; akin to OHG. arn to reap, aran harvest, G. ernte, Goth. asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS. esne; cf. Icel. önn working season, work.].
- To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not). [1913 Webster]"The high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn." [1913 Webster] - To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels. [1913 Webster]"I earn that [what] I eat." [1913 Webster]"The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- See Obtain.
earn, v. t. & i. [See 1st Yearn.].
To grieve. [1913 Webster]
earn, v. i. [See 4th Yearn.].
To long; to yearn. [1913 Webster]
"And ever as he rode, his heart did earn
To prove his puissance in battle brave." [1913 Webster]
To prove his puissance in battle brave." [1913 Webster]
earn, v. i. [AS. irnan to run. Rennet, and cf. Yearnings.].
To curdle, as milk. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
earn, v.tr.
1 (also absol.) a (of a person) obtain (income) in the form of money in return for labour or services (earn a weekly wage; happy to be earning at last). b (of capital invested) bring in as interest or profit.
2 a deserve; be entitled to; obtain as the reward for hard work or merit (have earned a holiday; earned our admiration; earn one's keep). b incur (a reproach, reputation, etc.).
1 (also absol.) a (of a person) obtain (income) in the form of money in return for labour or services (earn a weekly wage; happy to be earning at last). b (of capital invested) bring in as interest or profit.
2 a deserve; be entitled to; obtain as the reward for hard work or merit (have earned a holiday; earned our admiration; earn one's keep). b incur (a reproach, reputation, etc.).
Idiom
earned income income derived from wages etc. (opp. unearned income).
Etymology
OE earnian f. WG, rel. to Gmc roots assoc. with reaping
THESAURUS
earn
acquire, attain, bag, be deserving, be entitled to, be paid, be remunerated, be salaried, be seized of, be worthy of, bring in, capture, catch, clear, collect, come by, come in for, come into, contract, corral, derive, deserve, drag down, draw, draw down, draw wages, effect, enter into possession, gain, get, get an income, gross, harvest, knock down, make, merit, net, obtain, pocket, procure, pull down, rate, realize, reap, receive, sack, score, secure, take, warrant, win, work for wagesROGET THESAURUS
earn
Acquisition
VB acquire, get, gain, win, earn, obtain, procure, gather, collect, pick, pickup, glean, find, come upon, pitch upon, light upon, scrape up, scrape together, get in, reap and carry, net, bag, sack, bring home, secure, derive, draw, get in the harvest, profit, make profit, draw profit, turn a quick profit, turn to profit, turn to account, make capital out of, make money by, obtain a return, reap the fruits of, reap an advantage, gain an advantage, turn a penny, turn an honest penny, make the pot boil, bring grist to the mill, make money, coin money, raise money, raise funds, raise the wind, fill one's pocket, treasure up, realize, clear, produce, take, get back, recover, regain, retrieve, revendicate, replevy, redeem, come by one's own, come by, come in for, receive, inherit, step into a fortune, step into the shoes of, succeed to, get hold of, get between one's finger and thumb, get into one's hand, get at, take possession, come into possession, enter into possession, be profitable, pay, answer, accrue.For further exploring for "earn" in Webster Dictionary Online
