n. A sum of money paid regularly as a retirement benefit or by way of patronage. tr.v. pen·sioned, pen·sion·ing, pen·sions 1. To grant a pension to. 2. To retire or dismiss with a pension: "Some French farmers suggest that the Government pension off the older and less efficient farmers" (E.J. Dionne, Jr.) [Middle English pensioun, payment, from Old French pension, from Latin pēnsiō, pēnsiōn-, from pēnsus, past participle of pendere, to weigh, pay; see (s)pen- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pension·a·ble adj. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. 1. A boarding house or small hotel in Europe: "A pension had somewhat less to offer than a hotel; it was always smaller, and never elegant; it sometimes offered breakfast, and sometimes not" (John Irving). 2. Accommodations or the payment for accommodations, especially at a boarding house or small hotel in Europe. 3. Room and board. [French, from Old French, payment; see PENSION1.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.