money-driven
Meaning
Motivated primarily by the desire to make money.
Structure
Usage
The film critic dismissed the sequel as a shallow, money-driven project.
He entered the profession out of genuine passion, not because he was money-driven.
The company's money-driven culture often led to decisions that compromised product quality.
Etymology
The compound adjective 'money-driven' is a modern formation built from two deeply rooted English words. 'Money' traces its lineage to Latin 'moneta', an epithet for the goddess Juno in whose temple coins were minted, thus becoming the term for currency. 'Driven' originates from the Old English 'drīfan', meaning to force into motion, a concept with Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European ancestry relating to pushing or urging. The logic of the compound is transparently metaphorical: just as a vehicle is propelled by an engine, a person's actions are propelled by the pursuit of financial gain. This construction follows a common English pattern for creating descriptive adjectives (e.g., 'goal-driven', 'fear-driven') that specify the compelling force behind behavior.
Analysis
- money: From Middle English 'moneie', from Old French 'monoie', from Latin 'moneta' (mint, money). In this compound, it functions as a noun attributing the source or object of the motivation. - driven: Past participle of the verb 'drive', from Old English 'drīfan' (to propel, urge forward). In this compound, it functions as an adjective-forming element meaning "compelled or motivated by."