Money

(mŭn'y̆), n.; pl. MȮN'EYS. [O. Fr. moneie, monoie, N. Fr. monnaie, Pr. & Sp. moneda, Pg. moeda, It. & Lat. moneta, from Lat. Moneta (i. e., the adviser, from monere, to warn), a surname of Juno, in whose temple money was coined. See MINT.]

1Sense 1. Coin; stamped metal; pieces of metal, usually gold, silver, or copper, stamped by public authority, and used as the medium of commerce.

2Sense 2. Hence, any currency usually and lawfully employed in buying and selling as the equivalent of money, as bank-notes and the like.

☞ Money is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, money-bag, money-bill, money-box, money-dealer, money-dropper, money-lender, money-maker, money-making, money's-worth, and the like.

Synonyms— Cash. — MONEY, CASH. Money was originally stamped coin, and afterward any thing that generally takes its place in buying and selling. Cash was originally coin kept on hand for immediate use; and hence cash payments are strictly payments in coin, though current notes are ordinarily received in such cases, because they can always be cashed at the bank. “To prevent abuses, it was found necessary to fix a public stamp upon certain quantities of such particular metals as were in those countries commonly made use of to purchase goods. Hence the origin of coined money, and of those public offices called mints.” Smith, Wealth of Nations.

He sent the thief that stole the cash away, And punished him that put it in his way. Pope.