endow
[ en-dou ]
/ ɛnˈdaʊ /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of endow
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 FROM endow
en·dow·er, nounre·en·dow, verb (used with object)su·per·en·dow, verb (used with object)un·en·dow·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for endow
British Dictionary definitions for endow
endow
/ (ɪnˈdaʊ) /
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 forms of endow
endower, nounWord 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