endow

[ en-dou ]
See synonyms for: endowendowedendowing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to provide with a permanent fund or source of income: to endow a college.

  2. to furnish, as with some talent, faculty, or quality; equip: Nature has endowed her with great ability.

  1. Obsolete. to provide with a dower.

verb (used without object)
  1. (of a life-insurance policy) to become payable; yield its conditions.

Origin of endow

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English endowen, from Old French endouer, equivalent to en- en-1 + douer, from Latin dōtāre “to dower,” equivalent to dōt- (stem of dōs ) “dowry” + -āre infinitive suffix

Other words for endow

Other words from endow

  • en·dow·er, noun
  • re·en·dow, verb (used with object)
  • su·per·en·dow, verb (used with object)
  • un·en·dow·ing, adjective

Words Nearby endow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use endow in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for endow

endow

/ (ɪnˈdaʊ) /


verb(tr)
  1. to provide with or bequeath a source of permanent income

  2. (usually foll by with) to provide (with qualities, characteristics, etc)

  1. obsolete to provide with a dower

Origin of endow

1
C14: from Old French endouer, from en- 1 + douer, from Latin dōtāre, from dōs dowry

Derived forms of endow

  • endower, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012