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. |
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