Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

endow

 - 4 dictionary results

en⋅dow

  [en-dou]
Use endow in a Sentence
–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.
3. Obsolete. to provide with a dower.
–verb (used without object)
4. (of a life-insurance policy) to become payable; yield its conditions.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME endowen < OF endouer, equiv. to en- en- 1 + douer < L dōtāre to dower, equiv. to dōt- (s. of dōs) dowry + -āre inf. suffix

Related forms:
en⋅dow⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
2. invest, clothe, endue.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To endow
en·dow   (ěn-dou')   
tr.v.   en·dowed, en·dow·ing, en·dows

  1. To provide with property, income, or a source of income.

    1. To equip or supply with a talent or quality: Nature endowed you with a beautiful singing voice.

    2. To imagine as having a usually favorable trait or quality: endowed the family pet with human intelligence.

  3. Obsolete To provide with a dower.


[Middle English endowen, from Anglo-Norman endouer : Old French en-, intensive pref.; see en-1 + Old French douer, to provide with a dowry (from Latin dōtāre, from dōs, dōt-, dowry; see dō- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

endow 
1375, from Anglo-Fr. endover, from en- "in" + O.Fr. douer "endow," from L. dotare "bestow" (see dowry).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: en·dow
Pronunciation: in-'dau
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Anglo-French endower, from Old French en-, prefix stressing completion + douer to endow, from Latin dotare, from dot- dos gift, dowry
: to furnish with income; especially : to make a grant of money providing for the continuing support or maintenance of endowed by the testator>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see endow on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way