What does "premium" mean?

Premium: Something offered or given for the loan of money; bonus; -- sometimes synonymous with interest, but generally signifying a sum in addition to the capital. People were tempted to lend, by great premiums and large interest. Swift.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A sum of money paid to underwriters for insurance, or for undertaking to indemnify for losses of any kind.
  2. 3.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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