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fine²

(fīn)

1. A sum of money required to be paid especially to the government as a penalty for an offense.

2. Obsolete An end; a termination.

tr.v. fined, fin·ing, fines

To require the payment of a fine from; impose a fine on.

Idiom:

in fine

1. In conclusion; finally.

2. In summation; in brief.

[Middle English fin, from Old French, settlement, compensation, from Medieval Latin fīnis, from Latin, end.]

fina·ble, finea·ble adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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