Misthos
/ˈmɪs.θɒs/noun
An ancient Greek term meaning wages, pay, or a reward for service.
Did you know?In classical Greek, misthos could mean both ordinary pay and a reward, including compensation for military service or public duty; it also appears in biblical Greek contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*misdʰos
“A reward, payment, or recompense”
Proto-Greek
Proto-Greek
*misthos
“A payment or compensation”
5th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
μισθός (misthós)
“Wages, pay, hire, or a reward”
3rd–2nd Century BCE
Koine Greek
μισθός (misthós)
“Payment or recompense, including a reward for conduct”
19th–20th Century
English
misthos
“A transliterated scholarly term for wages or reward in ancient Greek society”
Modern English
English
misthos
“A specialized term used in classical, biblical, and historical studies”
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