endow

[en-dou]

verb (used with object)

to provide with a permanent fund or source of income: to endow a college.

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

Obsolete. to provide with a dower.

verb (used without object)

(of a life-insurance policy) to become payable; yield its conditions.

Origin of endow

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

Related formsen·dow·er, nounre·en·dow, verb (used with object)su·per·en·dow, verb (used with object)un·en·dowed, adjectiveun·en·dow·ing, adjectivewell-en·dowed, adjective

Synonyms for endow

2. invest, clothe, endue.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for endower

endow

verb (tr)

to provide with or bequeath a source of permanent income

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

obsolete to provide with a dower

Derived Formsendower, noun

Word Origin for endow

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

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

Word Origin and History for endower

endow

late 14c., indowen "provide an income for," from Anglo-French endover, from en- "in" + Old French douer "endow," from Latin dotare "bestow" (see dowry). Related: Endowed; endowing.