Obtains money in return for labor or services, or gains something through effort or merit.
From Old English 'earnian' meaning to labor for, merit, or deserve. Related to Old High German 'arnon' meaning to harvest. The word originally emphasized the effort or work required to gain something, rather than simply receiving it.
The phrase 'earned income' versus 'unearned income' in tax law reflects this word's core meaning - money from work is 'earned' while money from investments is 'unearned,' even though both require some form of effort or risk. This linguistic distinction shapes how different types of income are taxed in many countries.
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