better-paid
UK[ˌbetə ˈpeɪd]US[ˌbetər ˈpeɪd]
adj
Receiving a higher salary or wage than before or than others.
Morpheme Breakdown
better
paid
better
comparative degree
paid
past participle
Etymology
The compound adjective 'better-paid' is a modern English formation built from two distinct roots. The first element, 'better', originates from the Germanic comparative form of 'good', tracing back to Proto-Germanic batizô. The second element, 'paid', derives from the Latin verb pacāre, meaning to pacify or settle a debt, which evolved through Old French into the English financial sense of giving money for work or goods. The literal combination, "more satisfactorily settled or appeased in terms of money," logically evolved into the contemporary meaning describing an improved financial compensation for labor. This compound exemplifies how English creatively combines native Germanic comparatives with Romance-derived participial forms to create precise descriptive terms in socio-economic contexts.
Analysis
Structure: better (comparative degree) + paid (past participle)
- better: From Old English betera, comparative of gōd (good). Functional role: comparative adverb/adjective.
- paid: From Old French paier, from Latin pacāre (to appease, pacify), from pāx (peace). Functional role: past participle of 'pay', forming a passive/descriptive adjective.
Examples
She moved to a better-paid job in the city.
The new contract ensures that all staff are better-paid than they were five years ago.
Better-paid positions often come with greater responsibilities.