Endow Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of ENDOW

[+ object]

1

:

to give a large amount of money to a school, hospital, etc., in order to pay for the creation or continuing support of (something)

• 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.

2

:

to freely or naturally provide (someone or something) with something

— usually used as (be) endowed

• Human beings are endowed with reason. [=they naturally have reason; they are naturally able to think in a logical way]
• The country is richly endowed with mineral deposits.
• “…all men…are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…”

  U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776)

— see also well-endowed