Cattle
The word capitalist derives from the term capital, which in turn comes from the Latin word caput, meaning “head.” This Latin root carried the sense of the “head” of something, like a principal amount of wealth or a central resource. In Medieval Latin, capitale referred to “wealth” or “stock,” especially in relation to livestock, which were valuable assets at the time.
The suffix -ist was later added in English, forming capitalist, a term first recorded in the 18th century. It came to describe a person who owns capital or is an advocate of the economic system where capital is privately owned and invested to generate profit.
Thus, capitalist literally refers to someone involved with or owning capital, reflecting the system of private wealth ownership.
Pecuniary
The word “pecuniary” comes from the Latin word pecuniarius, which is derived from pecunia, meaning “money” or “wealth.” Pecunia, in turn, comes from pecus, meaning “cattle” or “livestock.” In ancient times, cattle were a primary measure of wealth and an important form of trade, so pecunia evolved to refer to money or wealth in general.
Thus, “pecuniary,” meaning “related to money,” has its etymological roots in the idea of wealth being measured by cattle. The connection between livestock and wealth is common in many ancient cultures, reflecting the importance of animals in early economies.
