Wealths

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An abundance or valuable assets amassed by an individual or group
2. A collective measure of assets, resources, or valuables in one's possession
3. The overall financial prosperity or accumulation of valuable items and properties

Etymology: The plural "wealths" is the form of "wealth" used when speakers mean separate stores of riches, as in "the wealths of nations" or "the varied wealths of the region." The noun itself is the older word "weal" with the suffix "-th" added, a common pattern for turning adjectives and nouns into abstract nouns, as in "health" from "whole" and "depth" from "deep." Its root goes back to an ancient sense of "good" and "best." The Proto-Indo-European root "wel-" gave rise to Old English "wela," meaning prosperity, which is cognate with German "Wohl," meaning welfare. Old English "wela" and Middle English "weal" shared the meaning of well-being, and "wealth" was formed from it in Middle English, when it still meant happiness or prosperity rather than a pile of money.