per·qui·site
(pûr
kw
-z
t)
KEY
NOUN:
- A payment or profit received in addition to a regular wage or salary, especially a benefit expected as one's due. See Synonyms at right.
- A tip; a gratuity.
- Something claimed as an exclusive right:
"Politics was the perquisite of the upper class"
(Richard B. Sewall).
ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English
perquisites,
property acquired otherwise than by inheritance, from Medieval Latin
perqu
stum,
acquisition, from Latin, neuter past participle of
perqurere,
to search diligently for :
per-,
per- +
quaerere,
to seek
