Wealth
Access to resources and power; earned, inherited, extracted, or accumulated. Rarely just one.
How We Say It
welth
Where It Comes From
Middle English welthe — well-being, prosperity. From weal — well-being. Related to well and welfare. Originally meant general welfare and flourishing — not specifically monetary accumulation. The narrowing to financial wealth is a modern development.
How It's Been Used
The gap between 'wealth as flourishing' and 'wealth as money' is the gap that debates about inequality fall into. 'Wealth creation' implies general benefit — a rising tide. Critics argue that financial wealth accumulation can coexist with declining general welfare. The original meaning would not have understood the distinction.