Stipend - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

STIPEND, a fixed periodical payment or salary for services rendered. The word is particularly used of the income from an ecclesiastical benefice or of the salary paid to any minister of religion. In the United Kingdom a paid magistrate or justice of the peace, appointed by the Crown on the advice of the home secretary for certain boroughs are termed "stipendiaries" or "stipendiary magistrates" (see Justice Of The Peace). The Latin stipendium (for stipipendium) is derived from slips, a gift, contribution (originally a heap of coins, stipare, to press; mass together) and pendere, to weigh out, pay. This was applied first to the pay of the army, and hence was used in the sense of military service, in such phrases as stipendia facere, and of a 'campaign, e.g. vicena stipendia meritis (Tac. Ann. i. 17). It also meant a tax or impost, payable in money.