Premium (?), n.; pl. Premiums (#). [L. praemium, originally, what one has got before or better than others; prae before + emere to take, buy. See Redeem.] 1. A reward or recompense; a prize to be won by being before another, or others, in a competition; reward or prize to be adjudged; a bounty; as, a premium for good behavior or scholarship, for discoveries, etc.
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To think it not the necessity, but the premium and privilege of life, to eat and sleep without any regard to glory. Burke.
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The law that obliges parishes to support the poor offers a premium for the encouragement of idleness. Franklin.
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2. Something offered or given for the loan of money; bonus; -- sometimes synonymous with interest, but generally signifying a sum in addition to the capital.
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People were tempted to lend, by great premiums and large interest. Swift.
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3. A sum of money paid to underwriters for insurance, or for undertaking to indemnify for losses of any kind.
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4. A sum in advance of, or in addition to, the nominal or par value of anything; as, gold was at a premium; he sold his stock at a premium.
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