en·dow·ment

[en-dou-muhnt]
noun
1.
the act of endowing.
2.
the property, funds, etc., with which an institution or person is endowed.
3.
Usually, endowments. an attribute of mind or body; a gift of nature.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English < Anglo-French endowement; see endow, -ment

non·en·dow·ment, noun
re·en·dow·ment, noun


2. gift, grant, bequest. 3. capacity, talent, faculties, ability, capability.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Endowment is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
endowment (ɪnˈdaʊmənt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a.  the source of income with which an institution, etc, is endowed
 b.  the income itself
2.  the act or process of endowing
3.  (usually plural) natural talents or qualities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

endowment
mid-15c., action of endowing, from endow + -ment. Meaning property with which an institution or person is endowed is from 1590s; that of gift, power, advantage is early 17c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Even our huge endowment does not produce enough income to sustain our continued
  expansion.
At some universities, endowment per athlete exceeds over-all endowment per
  student.
Moreover, donations are mostly too small and irregular to support long-term
  endowment schemes or big capital projects.
If one really cares about the wellbeing of others, then one will seek to
  preserve this cultural endowment.
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