ENGLISH
REFERENCE

roy

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹɔɪ// roy Archaic Formal

n. a person who receives a share of the money made from a book, song, or invention. This person is often the original creator or owner of the work.

n. a person or entity entitled to receive a percentage of the revenue generated from the use of their intellectual property. Often used in legal and commercial contexts regarding licensing and copyright.


SIMPLE

The author is a roy who receives ten percent of every sale.

CONTEXTUAL

As the primary roy on the patent, she receives a substantial payment every time the technology is licensed to a new manufacturer.

COMPLEX

The contract specifies that each roy must be paid within thirty days of the quarterly audit to ensure transparency in the distribution of digital streaming profits.

Origin

From various sources: Anglo-Norman roy (“king”) a variant of Old French roi, from Latin rēx, rēgem from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵs (“ruler, king”). Doublet of Rey. Scottish Gaelic ruadh (“red, red-haired”) from Old Irish rúad, from Proto-Celtic roudos from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ-. * Anglicisation of Bengali রায় (raẏ, surname). Doublet of Rai, rex, and rajah.

Usage

Primarily used in legal, financial, or publishing contexts to refer to the individual recipient of royalties.

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