Origin: 1470–80; <
Latin ēmolumentum advantage, benefit, equivalent to
ēmol(
ere) to grind out, produce by grinding (
ē- e- +
molere to grind;
see mill1) +
-u-, variant before labials of
-i- -i- +
-mentum -ment Synonyms
earnings, pay, recompense, stipend, honorarium.