high-price

The compound adjective 'high-price' is a transparent combination of two common English words, each with deep historical roots. 'High' originates from the Proto-Germanic hauhaz, meaning "tall, lofty, high," a concept extending metaphorically to degree or amount. 'Price' derives from Latin pretium, which carried the core meaning of "value" or "worth," often in a commercial sense. The logic of the compound is directly literal: a 'high price' signifies a cost that is great in amount, which in turn characterizes an item as expensive. This straightforward compounding reflects a common pattern in English for creating descriptive terms, where an adjective-noun pair solidifies into a fixed modifier.

Structure: high (great in amount/degree) + price (cost) - high: From Old English hēah, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoog and German hoch. Functions as an adjective modifying the noun. - price: From Old French pris, from Latin pretium 'reward, prize, value, worth'. Functions as a noun, the object being modified.