endowment

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The act of endowing.
2. n. Funds or property donated to an institution, individual, or group as a source of income.
3. n. A natural gift, ability, or quality.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act of settling dower on a woman.
2. n. The act of settling a fund or permanent provision for the support of any person or object, as a student, a professorship, a school, a hospital, etc.
3. n. That which is bestowed or settled; property, fund, or revenue permanently appropriated to any object: as, the endowments of a church, hospital, or college.
4. n. That which is given or bestowed on the person or mind; gift of nature; in the plural, natural equipment of body or mind, or both; attributes or aptitudes.
5. n. Synonyms Bequest, present, gift, fund.
6. n. Acquirements, Acquisitions, Attainments, etc. (see acquirement); gift, talent, capacity, genius, parts. See comparison under genius.

Wiktionary

1. n. Something with which a person or thing is endowed.
2. n. Funds invested for the support and benefit of a not-for-profit institution.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The act of bestowing a dower, fund, or permanent provision for support.
2. n. That which is bestowed or settled on a person or an institution; property, fund, or revenue permanently appropriated to any object.
3. n. That which is given or bestowed upon the person or mind; gift of nature; accomplishment; natural capacity; talents; -- usually in the plural.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the capital that provides income for an institution
2. n. natural abilities or qualities
3. n. the act of endowing with a permanent source of income