remittance
UK[rɪˈmɪt(ə)ns]US[rɪˈmɪt(ə)ns]
n
A sum of money sent, especially by mail or electronic transfer, in payment for goods or services or as a gift.
n
The action or process of sending such money.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
mitt
ance
re
again/back
mitt
send
ance
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'remittance' is built on the Latin verb remittere, meaning "to send back." This verb itself is a compound of the prefix re- ("back") and the root mittere ("to send"). In medieval Latin, the noun remittentia evolved, signifying the action of sending back or a payment sent in return. Entering English in the early 18th century, the term became specifically associated with commerce and finance. The core logic remains clear: a remittance is literally "the act of sending back" or "that which is sent back," originally referring to a payment returned to a creditor or a place of origin, a concept that seamlessly extends to modern international money transfers.
Analysis
Structure: re (again/back) + mitt (send) + ance (noun suffix)
- re: A Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back."
- mitt: A Latin root, from the verb mittere, meaning "to send."
- ance: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (-antia) indicating an action, process, or state.
Examples
He sends a monthly remittance to his family overseas.
The company requires payment by bank remittance.
The rise in digital remittance services has made international transfers faster and cheaper.