Affluence
/ˈæf.lu.əns/noun
The state of having a great deal of money or material wealth.
Did you know?Affluence comes from Latin roots meaning “to flow to,” so its original image was not luxury, but a steady incoming stream — like fortune arriving at your door.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleu-
“to flow, swim”
Latin
Latin
fluere
“to flow”
Latin
Latin
affluere
“to flow toward, flow in abundance”
Late Latin
Latin
affluentia
“abundance, a flowing toward”
Middle English
English
affluence
“abundance; plentiful supply”
Modern English
English
affluence
“wealth; material abundance”
Explore more surprising origins