rə̇ˌpärd.əmēˈen.(ˌ)tō, ˌrāˌpärd.əmˈyen.- noun
( -s )
Etymology: American Spanish, from Spanish, distribution, from repartir to distribute (from re- — from Latin — + partir to divide, from Latin partire, partiri ) + -miento -ment (from Latin -mentum ) — more at part
: a grant or distribution formerly made to Spanish colonists or establishments in America ; especially : a grant of Indian forced labor (as for use in agriculture, in mining, or in construction) — compare encomienda