— pensionable , adj. — pensionably , adv. — pensionless , adj.
/pen"sheuhn/ ; Fr. /pahonn syawonn"/ for 3 , n. , pl. pensions /-sheuhnz/ ; Fr. /-syawonn"/ for 3 , v.
n.
1. a fixed amount, other than wages, paid at regular intervals to a person or to the person's surviving dependents in consideration of past services, age, merit, poverty, injury or loss sustained, etc.: a retirement pension.
2. an allowance, annuity, or subsidy.
3. (in France and elsewhere in continental Europe)
a. a boardinghouse or small hotel.
b. room and board.
v.t.
4. to grant or pay a pension to.
5. to cause to retire on a pension (usually fol. by off ).
[ 1325-75; ME ( pensïon ) pension- (s. of pensio ) a weighing out, hence, a paying out, installment paying, equiv. to pens ( us ) (ptp. of pendere to weigh out, pay by weight, equiv. to pend- v. s. + -tus ptp. suffix, with dt > s ) + -ion- -ION ]