fee
English meaning: Fee
Definition
(feudal law) A right to the use of a superior's land, as a stipend for services to be performed; also, the land so held; a fief.
Example
“The club charges an annual membership fee of fifty pounds.”
Another example: “There is a small fee for using the gym's swimming pool.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A common everyday noun for a charge made for a service or admission ('entrance fee', 'a small fee'); also a transfer fee in sport. The feudal-law sense (a fief) is historical. As a verb it can mean to engage by paying a fee. Neutral register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'fie' / Medieval Latin 'feodum' (fief), of Germanic origin; the 'payment for services' sense developed in the 16th century.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- entrance fee
- membership fee
- small fee
- annual fee
- fee waiver
- late fee
Word Forms
fee (n & v); fees; feed; feeing
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B