perquisite

Alternative forms

• parquisite (obsolete)

Etymology

From Medieval Latin perquīsītum (“something acquired for profit”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜːkwɪzɪt/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜɹkwəzɪt/
• Hyphenation: per‧qui‧site

Noun

perquisite (plural perquisites)

1. (chiefly in the plural) Any monetary or other incidental benefit beyond salary.
   • 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 873:

     The tithe properly belongs to the Lord who, in turn, assigns it to the Levites as payments for their sanctuary labors. Thus levitical and priestly perquisites are gifts from God.

   The perquisites of this job include health insurance and a performance bonus.

2. A gratuity.

   After the wonderful service that evening he didn’t hesitate in laying a substantial perquisite on the table.

   • 1900', Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, ch 5:

     One voyage, I recollect, I tipped him a live sheep out of the remnant of my sea-stock: not that I wanted him to do anything for me—he couldn’t, you know—but because his childlike belief in the sacred right to perquisites quite touched my heart.

3. A privilege or possession held or claimed exclusively by a certain person, group or class.

   Private jets and motor yachts are perquisites of the rich.

   • 1962, Thomas S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd edition, page 160:

     Why is progress a perquisite reserved almost exclusively for the activities we call science?

References

• W. Martin with G[uy] A. J. Tops, et al. (1998) Van Dale Groot Woordenboek Engels–Nederlands [Van Dale Great Dictionary, English–Dutch], 3rd edition, volume I, Utrecht, Antwerp: Van Dale Lexicografie, →ISBN.

Etymology 1

Etymology 2

Participle

perquīsīte

1. vocative masculine singular of perquīsītus

References

• “perquisite”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers