Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WA'GES, n. [plural in termination, but singular in signification. Fr. gage, gages.]

1. Hire; reward; that which is paid or stipulated for services, but chiefly for services by manual labor, or for military and naval services. We speak of servant's wages, a laborer's wages, or soldier's wages; but we never apply the word to the rewards given to men in office, which are called fees or salary. The word is however sometimes applied to the compensation given to representatives in the legislature. [United States.] Tell me, what shall thy wages be? – Gen. xxix. Be content with your wages. – Luke iii.
2. Reward; fruit; recompense; that which is given or received in return. The wages of sin is death. – Rom. vi.