Tributary

  • 1Tributary — Trib u*ta*ry, a. [OE. tributaire, F. tributaire, L. tributarius. See {Tribute}.] 1. Paying tribute to another, either from compulsion, as an acknowledgment of submission, or to secure protection, or for the purpose of purchasing peace. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2tributary — [trib′yo͞o ter΄ē, trib′yəter΄ē] adj. [ME tributarie < L tributarius] 1. paying tribute 2. under another s control; subject [a tributary nation] 3. in the nature of tribute; owed or paid as tribute 4. a) making additions or furnishing supplies; …

    English World dictionary

  • 3Tributary — Trib u*ta*ry, n.; pl. {Tributaries}. 1. A ruler or state that pays tribute, or a stated sum, to a conquering power, for the purpose of securing peace and protection, or as an acknowledgment of submission, or for the purchase of security. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4tributary — index contributory, inferior (lower in position) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5tributary — (adj.) late 14c., paying tribute, from L. tributarius liable to tax or tribute, from tributum (see TRIBUTE (Cf. tribute)). The noun sense of one who pays tribute is recorded from early 15c. Meaning stream that flows into a larger body is from… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6tributary — adj *subordinate, secondary, dependent, subject, collateral Analogous words: conquered, vanquished, subjugated, subdued (see CONQUER): *auxiliary, subsidiary, ancillary, adjuvant, contributory …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 7tributary — [adj] secondary; branch accessory, dependent, feeding, minor, satellite, shoot, side, sub, subject, subordinate, under; concept 560 Ant. original, primary, source …

    New thesaurus

  • 8tributary — ► NOUN (pl. tributaries) 1) a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake. 2) historical a person or state that pays tribute to another state or ruler. ORIGIN Latin tributarius, from tributum (see TRIBUTE(Cf. ↑tribute)) …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9Tributary — This article is about a lesser flow of water. For other uses, see Tributary (disambiguation). For other uses of Confluence (which redirects here), see Confluence (disambiguation). Biała Lądecka, a right tributary of Nysa Kłodzka in Poland,… …

    Wikipedia

  • 10tributary — [[t]trɪ̱bjʊtəri, AM teri[/t]] tributaries N COUNT: oft N n A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger one. ...the Napo river, a tributary of the Amazon. ...a small tributary river …

    English dictionary