tribute
Definitions
An act, statement, or gift showing respect or admiration for someone.
致敬；颂辞；表示敬意的礼物
A payment made by one ruler or nation to another as a sign of submission.
贡品；贡赋
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedStraight from Latin tribūtum, 'a thing paid or allotted.' Originally a tribute was the tax a conquered people had to pay a ruler — money handed over in submission. From 'dues you must pay' it softened into the respect you choose to 'pay' someone: we still pay tribute to a hero.
Root tribut still carries 6 more wordsWhy It Means This
The word carries a quiet shift from forced to freely given. A tribute was once an obligatory tax — something a weaker party owed a stronger one. As empires faded, the compulsory sense gave way to a voluntary one: praise, respect, or a gift you offer because you want to. The verb 'pay' survives in 'pay tribute,' a fossil of the old payment idea.
Common Collocations
- 1.pay tribute to向……致敬
- 2.floral tribute献花致哀
- 3.fitting tribute恰当的致敬
- 4.tribute act翻唱致敬乐队
- 5.heartfelt tribute真挚的致敬
Example Sentences
- 1.
The concert was held as a tribute to the late singer.
- 2.
Thousands gathered to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.
- 3.
Mourners left floral tributes outside the cathedral.
- 4.
For centuries the smaller kingdoms paid tribute to the empire.
Synonym Comparison
- tribute — respect 'paid' to someone, often public and ceremonial (a tribute concert)
- homage — deep, often deferential respect; common in art ('an homage to Hitchcock')
- praise — plain expression of approval, no ceremony implied
- memorial — specifically honors someone who has died