fee

¹fee

noun \ˈfē\

Definition of FEE

1

a (1) : an estate in land held in feudal law from a lord on condition of homage and service (2) : a piece of land so held

b : an inherited or heritable estate in land

2

a : a fixed charge

b : a sum paid or charged for a service

— in fee

: in absolute and legal possession

Examples of FEE

1. The admission fee is $10.
2. a credit card with no annual fee
3. The tuition fees went up this year.
4. We returned the library book late and had to pay a late fee.
5. His insurance covers the doctor's fee.
6. They paid a fortune in legal fees.

Origin of FEE

Middle English, from Anglo-French fé, fief, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English feoh cattle, property, Old High German fihu cattle; akin to Latin pecus cattle, pecunia money

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FEE

Synonyms

ante, charge, cost, damage, price, figure, freight, price tag

Related Words

fair market value, market value, valuation, value; asking price, list price, sticker price; price point, rate, tariff, unit price; carrying charge, overcharge, service charge (also service fee), surcharge; deduction, discount, markdown, reduction, sale; deposit; down payment; account, bill, check, invoice, tab

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

Rhymes with FEE

b, be, bee, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, plea, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee

²fee

transitive verb

feedfee·ing

Definition of FEE

1

chiefly Scottish : hire

2

: ⁹tip 2

Examples of FEE

1. <the townspeople fee country lasses as housemaids, nurses, and cooks>

First Known Use of FEE

15th century

Related to FEE

Synonyms

assume, engage, employ [chiefly Scottish], hire, lay on [chiefly British], pay, place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Antonyms

ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack

Related Words

reemploy, reengage, rehire; apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract; enlist; advance, promote, upgrade; keep (on); headhunt, scout

Near Antonyms

furlough, lay off, lock out

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

fee

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In law, an inheritable freehold estate in real property (see real and personal property). The word derives from fief, as used in feudal law. Modern property law includes several varieties of fee, including fee simple (alienable and of indefinite duration), fee tail (granted to an individual and his or her descendants but subject to reversion if a tenant dies with no descendants), and life fee or life estate (held only during the lifetime of the grantee).