endow

verb

en·​dow in-ˈdau̇ How to pronounce endow (audio)
en-
endowed; endowing; endows

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with an income
especially : to make a grant of money providing for the continuing support or maintenance of
endow a hospital
2
: to furnish with a dower
3
: to provide with something freely or naturally
endowed with a good sense of humor

Examples of endow in a Sentence

The wealthy couple endowed a new wing of the hospital. She plans to endow a faculty position at the university. The money will be used to endow the museum and research facility.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even in the character’s most transparently manipulative moments, Pearce endows him with a seductive conviviality—a bracing largeness of spirit. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024 When Saudi Arabia, endowed with plentiful reserves of oil and gas, scrambles to build nuclear power plants, the country is not meeting its energy needs. Thomas Bass author, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024 Proceeds from the sale, about $4 million, were used to endow two professorships and four graduate fellowships. Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 31 Oct. 2024 McNEAL: You’re endowed with abilities, physical traits. Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for endow 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French endower, from en- + dower, douer to endow, from Latin dotare, from dot-, dos gift, dowry — more at date

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of endow was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near endow

Cite this Entry

“Endow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endow. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

endow

verb
en·​dow in-ˈdau̇ How to pronounce endow (audio)
1
: to provide with money for support or maintenance
2
: to furnish with something freely or naturally
humans are endowed with reason

Legal Definition

endow

transitive verb
en·​dow in-ˈdau̇ How to pronounce endow (audio)
: to furnish with income
especially : to make a grant of money providing for the continuing support or maintenance of
a scholarship endowed by the testator
Etymology

Anglo-French endower, from Old French en-, prefix stressing completion + douer to endow, from Latin dotare, from dot-, dos gift, dowry

More from Merriam-Webster on endow

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