tributary

Meanings

Noun

• A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.
• A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.

Adjective

• Related to the paying of tribute.
• subordinate; inferior
• Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing.

Origin

• From Middle English tributarie ("paying tribute"), from Latin tribūtārius, from tribūtum.