ENDOWMENT

n. 1 the act or an instance of endowing. 2 assets, esp. property or income with which a person or body is endowed. 3 (usu. in pl.) skill, talent, etc., with which a person is endowed. 4 (attrib.) denoting forms of life insurance involving payment by the insurer of a fixed sum on a specified date, or on the death of the insured person if earlier. endowment mortgage a mortgage linked to endowment insurance of the mortgagor's life, the capital being paid from the sum insured.