Dotation

Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

doʊˈteɪʃən (American English), dəʊˈteɪʃən (British English)

Definitions

1. The act of endowing or providing funds, especially for institutions or charitable purposes.
2. A donation or financial grant given for a specific purpose.

Usage Examples

• The university received a generous dotation from an anonymous donor.
• The dotation of land to the monastery helped sustain its operations.
• The foundation's dotation was used to support medical research.

Etymology

Derived from Latin ‘dotatio’, from ‘dotare’ meaning “to endow” or “to give a dowry.” First recorded in English in the 16th century.

Synonyms

• Endowment
• Donation
• Bequest
• Grant
• Subsidy

Antonyms

• Withholding
• Deprivation
• Loss
• Recession

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: dəʊˈteɪʃən
• American English: doʊˈteɪʃən
• French Influence: do.ta.sjɔ̃

Historical Usage

Historically, the term was commonly used in legal and ecclesiastical contexts to refer to financial provisions made for religious institutions, universities, and public services.

Cultural Nuances

In some cultures, dotation is linked specifically to dowries and marriage gifts, while in others, it signifies philanthropic endowments to arts and education.

More Information

The concept of dotation has been a fundamental part of societal development, particularly in the formation of charitable institutions and higher education establishments. Many universities owe their existence to historical dotations, reflecting the importance of financial contributions in sustaining cultural and intellectual growth.