endow
/in'dau/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To provide with a permanent source of income or financial support, typically by donating a large sum of money to an institution.
- To provide or equip with a quality, ability, or asset, often in a natural or inherent way.
Usage and Examples
Verb (Provide financial support):
- The wealthy alumnus decided to endow a new scholarship fund for engineering students.
- The museum was endowed by a generous philanthropist, ensuring its operation for years to come.
Verb (Provide with a quality or ability):
- She is endowed with a remarkable talent for languages.
- Nature has endowed this region with spectacular natural beauty.
Advanced Usage
"to endow with": This is the standard construction for both meanings.
- The foundation was endowed with a large sum of money. (Financial)
- He is endowed with great patience. (Quality/Ability)
"well-endowed": Often used to describe an institution with substantial financial resources or, informally, a person with ample physical attributes.
- The university is a well-endowed institution. (Financial resources)
- (Informal) The statue was well-endowed. (Physical form)
Variants and Related Words
Endowment (n): The act of endowing; the funds or property donated to an institution; a natural quality or ability.
- The university's endowment grew significantly. (Funds)
- Her artistic endowment was evident from a young age. (Natural ability)
Endowed (adj): Having been provided with something, especially a quality or financial support.
- The endowed professorship attracts top scholars. (Financially supported position)
- He is naturally endowed with a strong voice. (Possessing a quality)
Synonyms
- Bestow: To confer or present (an honor, right, or gift). Often used for qualities or abstract things.
- Grant: To agree to give or allow (something requested) to. Common in financial or legal contexts.
- Furnish: To provide or supply. More general.
- Bless (with): To endow or favor (with a particular ability or attribute). Often implies a positive gift.
Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions
- Endow [someone/something] with [something]: The primary grammatical structure.
- The program endows students with critical thinking skills.
- They endowed the hospital with a new research wing.
Related Idioms
- To be endowed by nature: To possess natural gifts or advantages.
- As a singer, she was richly endowed by nature.
Verb
- furnish with an endowment
- When she got married, she got dowered
- give qualities or abilities to