income
UK[ˈɪnkʌm]US[ˈɪnkʌm]
n
money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
come
in
in
come
come
Etymology
the word "income" is a transparent compound formed from native english elements. it first appeared in middle english (c. 1300) as "incom," directly combining the preposition "in" with the verb "come." the literal sense was "that which comes in," specifically referring to money or revenue entering one's possession. this straightforward metaphor of resources "arriving" or "flowing in" to a person or entity has remained remarkably stable, evolving from a general term for any arrival to its specialized modern financial meaning. its logic perfectly illustrates how english can create concrete abstract nouns from simple directional and action verbs.
Analysis
Structure: in (in) + come (come)
in (old english, prepositional prefix denoting entry or inward direction) + come (old english, verb meaning to move or arrive)
Examples
her annual income increased after the promotion.
they rely on investment income to supplement their pensions.
the tax is calculated based on your total taxable income.