Endowment
ɪnˈdaʊmənt
Definitions
2 meaningsA gift of money or property to a person or institution, especially a gift providing an income for the recipient.
ɪnˈdaʊmənt
A grant of money or property to an institution or person.
The museum's endowment allows it to provide free admission to the public.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone gives a school or charity a big bag of money or property that's going to help them for a long time. That's an endowment! It's like a permanent gift that keeps on giving.
👶 For kids: It's like when someone gives a school a big present of money that can help it for a long, long time!
More Examples
The charity relies heavily on its endowment to fund its various programs.
The wealthy philanthropist established an endowment to support medical research.
Her family set up an endowment that will pay for her education.
How It's Used
"The university's endowment fund provides crucial financial support for scholarships and research."
"A substantial endowment was established to support the arts center."
A natural gift or talent; a quality or ability given by nature or by a benefactor.
ɪnˈdaʊmənt
A natural ability, talent, or quality.
He had a considerable endowment for music.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're just naturally good at something, like singing or drawing. That natural talent is your endowment – something you were given that makes you special.
👶 For kids: It's like when you're born with a special skill that you're really good at, like drawing or running fast!
More Examples
Her artistic endowment was evident in her early works.
The dancer's natural endowment allowed for exceptional grace and flexibility.
The team's success was due, in part, to an endowment of skilled players.
How It's Used
"The actor's natural endowment for comedy was evident from a young age."
"She possessed a remarkable endowment of intelligence and empathy."
Synonyms
From Middle English *endowment*, derived from Old French *endouement* (act of endowing), from *endouer* (to endow), from *en-* (in) + *douer* (to give), from Latin *dotare* (to endow, give as a dowry), from *dos* (dowry).
The term has historically been used to refer to gifts or grants, particularly to educational or religious institutions, dating back to the early modern period. It was also used to refer to natural abilities in the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of the 'end' result of 'dow'ing money – the result of being given or gifted property or funds for a specific use.