remunerative adj.

1520s, "to recompense, pay (someone) for work done or services rendered," usually in a good sense, back-formation from remuneration or else from Latin remuneratus, past participle of remunerari (later remunerare) "repay, reward," from re- "back" (see re-) + munerari "to give," from munus (genitive muneris) "gift, office, duty" (see municipal).

The sense of "reward or pay for services rendered or work done" is by 1580s. Of things, "to recompense," by 1849. Related: Remunerated; remunerating; remunerable.

word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to; doing, serving to do," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin adjectival suffix -ivus (source also of Italian and Spanish -ivo). In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (as in hasty, tardy).