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Webster 1913 Edition

Tributary

Trib′u-ta-ry

,
Adj.
[OE.
tributaire
, F.
tributaire
, L.
tributarius
. See
Tribute
.]
1.
Paying tribute to another, either from compulsion, as an acknowledgment of submission, or to secure protection, or for the purpose of purchasing peace.
[Julius] unto Rome made them
tributary
.
Chaucer.
2.
Hence, subject; subordinate; inferior.
He to grace his
tributary
gods.
Milton.
3.
Paid in tribute.
“Tributary tears.”
Shak.
4.
Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing;
as, the Ohio has many
tributary
streams, and is itself
tributary
to the Mississippi
.

Trib′u-ta-ry

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Tributaries
.
1.
A ruler or state that pays tribute, or a stated sum, to a conquering power, for the purpose of securing peace and protection, or as an acknowledgment of submission, or for the purchase of security.
2.
A stream or river flowing into a larger river or into a lake; an affluent.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tributary

TRIB'UTARY

,
Adj.
[from tribute.] Paying tribute to another, either from compulsion, as an acknowledgment of submission, or to secure protection, or for the purpose of purchasing peace. The republic of Ragusa is tributary to the grand seignor. Many of the powers of Europe are tributary to the Barbary states.
1.
Subject; subordinate.
He, to grace his tributary gods--
2.
Paid in tribute.
No flatt'ry tunes these tributary lays.
3.
Yielding supplies of any thing. The Ohio has many large tributary streams; and is itself tributary to the Mississippi.

TRIB'UTARY

,
Noun.
One that pays tribute or a stated sum to a conquering power, for the purpose of securing peace and protection, or as an acknowledgment of submission, or for the purchase of security. What a reproach to nations that they should be the tributaries of Algiers!

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