lucre

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   money or profit, especially when regarded as sordid, corrupting, or dishonestly gained

   The official betrayed the public trust for personal lucre.

From Middle English lucre, through Old French from Latin lucrum, 'gain or profit.' The word was once neutral, but religious and moral phrases such as filthy lucre gave it its usual modern suggestion of shameful gain.

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