wage

Everyday

1. A wage is the money a worker is paid for their work, usually counted by the hour, day or week. tree →
2. Wages (plural) is the money someone earns, as in «his weekly wages». tree →
3. (verb, formal) To wage a war or a fight means to carry it on for a long time. tree →

In the lessons

In maths word problems a wage is often a rate: money per hour or per week, so you multiply by the number of hours or weeks to find the total pay. In everyday life it tells you about jobs and money. Phrases: «hourly wage», «minimum wage», «living wage», «earn a wage», «wage war on», «a wage rise».

Examples

• Mum's wage goes up next month. tree →
• Sam earns a wage of 12 dollars an hour; how much does he earn in 5 hours? tree →
• The workers asked for higher wages. tree →
• The minimum wage is the lowest pay allowed by law. tree →
• He spends half his wages on rent. tree →
• The town waged a campaign against litter. tree →
• The two kingdoms waged war for many years. tree →
• "Give me my wage," said Ivan. tree →

Note

Countable: a wage, wages. «Wages» is often used in the plural for the same meaning. Compare salary (a fixed yearly amount, usually paid monthly) and wage (often hourly or weekly). Maths: total wage = rate × time; «per hour» signals multiplication.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, wages are payment for work, as when Laban pays Jacob.

Interpretation. The Torah says a worker's wages must be paid on the same day, and tradition teaches that withholding wages is a serious wrong.

Examples

• And he said: 'Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.' (Torah GEN.30.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• And your father hath mocked me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. (Torah GEN.31.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?' (Torah GEN.29.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• The wages of the righteous is life; the increase of the wicked is sin. (Writings PRO.10.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• The wicked earneth deceitful wages; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward. (Writings PRO.11.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages; (Writings JOB.7.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a wage, wages. «Wages» is often used in the plural for the same meaning. Compare salary (a fixed yearly amount, usually paid monthly) and wage (often hourly or weekly). Maths: total wage = rate × time; «per hour» signals multiplication.