tributary
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word tributary. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word tributary, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say tributary in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word tributary you have here. The definition of the word tributary will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oftributary, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
| PIE word |
|---|
| *tréyes |
From Middle English tributarie (“paying tribute”), from Latin tribūtārius, from tribūtum (“tribute”).
Pronunciation
Noun
tributary (plural tributaries)
- (hydrology) A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.
- Synonyms: affluent, influent
- Antonym: distributary
- (anatomy) A vein which drains into another vein.
- The great saphenous vein is a tributary of the femoral vein.
- A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 259, column 2:
- An earneſt Coniuration from the King, / As England was his faithfull Tributary
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
stream which flows into a larger one
|
nation, state etc.
|
Adjective
tributary (not comparable)
- Related to the paying of tribute.
- Subordinate; inferior.
- 1634 October 9 (first performance), , edited by H Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: , before the Right Honorable, Iohn Earle of Bridgewater, Vicount Brackly, Lord President of Wales, and One of His Maiesties Most Honorable Privie Counsell.">…] , London: ">…] for Hvmphrey Robinson, , published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC:
- to grace his tributary gods
- Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing.
- The Ohio has many tributary streams, and is itself tributary to the Mississippi.