An example of a tribute is a dinner hosted to honor a person and give him an award.
- a regular payment of money, etc., made by one ruler or nation to another as acknowledgment of subjugation, for protection from invasion, etc.
- a tax levied for this
- under feudalism,
- a tax paid by a vassal to an overlord
- the obligation to make such a payment
- any forced payment or contribution, as through bribery, or the need to make this
- something given, done, or said, as a gift, testimonial, etc., that shows gratitude, respect, honor, or praise
- any outcome regarded as due to, and hence honoring, an effort, accomplishment, etc.: the team's success was a tribute to the coach's leadership
Origin of tributeMiddle English tribut from Middle French from Classical Latin tributum, neuter of tributus, past participle of tribuere, to assign, allot, pay from tribus, Roman tribal division: see tribe
- A gift, payment, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration: put up a plaque as a tribute to his generosity.
- Evidence attesting to some praiseworthy quality or characteristic: Winning the scholarship was a tribute to her hard work.
- a. A payment in money or other valuables made by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of protection or security.b. A tax imposed for such payment.
- Any payment exacted for protection.
- a. A payment or tax given by a feudal vassal to an overlord.b. The obligation to make such a payment.
Origin of tributeMiddle English tribut from Old French from Latin tribūtum from neuter past participle of tribuere to pay, distribute from tribus tribe ; see tribe .
- An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift.
- Please accept this as a tribute of our thanks.
- A payment made by one nation to another in submission.
- The Ancient Romans made their conquered countries pay tribute.
- Extortion; protection money.
- A payment made by a feudal vassal to his lord.
- (mining) A certain proportion of the mined ore, or of its value, given to the miner as payment.
(third-person singular simple present tributes, present participle tributing, simple past and past participle tributed)
- To pay as tribute.