mileage
UK[ˈmaɪlɪdʒ]US[ˈmaɪlɪdʒ]
n
the distance that a vehicle has travelled or the distance it can travel using a particular amount of fuel
n
the amount of use or advantage you get from something
Morpheme Breakdown
mile
age
mile
unit of distance
age
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'mileage' is a modern english compound formed from the noun 'mile' and the suffix '-age'. the 'mile' itself has a long history, derived from the latin 'mille passus', meaning 'a thousand paces', a unit of distance used by roman armies. the suffix '-age', entering english via old french from latin '-aticum', denotes a collective quantity or a result related to the root. therefore, 'mileage' literally means 'the aggregate quantity measured in miles', which evolved from simply indicating a distance travelled to also metaphorically representing the useful output or benefit derived from an activity or object.
Analysis
Structure: mile (unit of distance) + age (noun suffix)
'mile' originates from latin 'milia', plural of 'mille' meaning 'thousand', referring to a thousand paces. 'age' is a noun-forming suffix of french/latin origin, indicating a related condition, aggregate, or result.
Examples
the car has a low mileage for its age.
we get good mileage from our car, averaging 40 miles per gallon.
he's trying to get more political mileage out of the recent scandal.