Word: bill Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English bille, from Anglo-Norman bille, from Old French bulle, from Medieval Latin bulla (“seal, sealed document”). Doublet of bull (“papal bull; bubble”) and bulla. Pronunciation: /ˈbɪl/, [ˈbɪɫ], /ˈbɪʊ̯/, [ˈbɪʊ̯] 1. A written list or inventory. (Now obsolete except in specific senses or set phrases; bill of lading, bill of goods, etc.) 2. A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.) 3. A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law. Example: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I beg to introduce a bill entitled[…] Example: Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men. 4. A declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law. Labels: obsolete Example: ... the legion of bills in the suit have been transformed into mere bills of mortality ... 5. A piece of paper money; a banknote. Labels: Canada, US Example: He gave the change for a three dollar bill. Upon examination, the bill proved to be counterfeit. Example: […]So I wropped 'em up in a five dollar bill and tied 'em up and sent 'em, and they ain't back yet.” 6. A piece of paper money; a banknote. Labels: Canada, US, slang Example: There was no excuse, simply no excuse for not making four or five bills a week. A little initiative, that's all. Example: All we got from her was Stranahan's location, and barely that. A house in the bay, she said. A house with a windmill. Easiest five bills that woman ever made. 7. One hundred pounds sterling. Labels: UK, slang Example: In the conversation Henshall says he "struggling to find people to go up the roads" explaining how it would be "no good for black people" and how they need a "young white boy to go up there". Stock agrees, saying how he knows "this kid" who "owes me 12 bills". 8. A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge owing; an invoice. Example: He received a bill of £9 for the groceries. Example: My lord, here is my bill. 9. A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, listing the price or charge paid; a receipt. Labels: India, slang 10. A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods Example: In the meantime I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants. 11. A writing that binds the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated in the document; a bill of exchange. In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of hand, or a promissory note. Example: Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a gentleman born, Master Parson; who writes himself Armigero, in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, Armigero. 12. A set of items presented together. Example: Meanwhile, the bills on the main stages skewed towards mainstream pop, with mixed results. Lorde’s Friday evening Other stage appearance was one of the weekend’s highlights. The staging and choreography were fantastic – a giant glass tank on a hydraulic platform, in and around which a troupe of dancers acted out the highs and lows of a teenage party 13. A list of pupils to be disciplined for breaking school rules. Labels: UK Example: One of the best stories of the period describes the misadventure of a batch of candidates for confirmation whose names were by accident sent up to the Head-Master on a piece of paper identical in size and shape with the "bill" used by the Masters for the purpose of reporting delinquents. Keate, we are told, insisted on flogging all the boys mentioned in the document […]