appanage

noun ap·pa·nage \ ˈa-pə-nij \

variants: or less commonly apanage

Definition of appanage

1 a : a grant (as of land or revenue) made by a sovereign or a legislative body to a dependent member of the royal family or a principal vassal

b : a property or privilege appropriated to or by a person as something due

2 : a rightful endowment or adjunct

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Examples of appanage in a Sentence

use of the grounds was just one appanage he bestowed upon the caretakers of his estate
wealthy people who believe that political power is their natural appanage

Origin and Etymology of appanage

French apanage, from Old French, from apaner to provide for a younger offspring, from Medieval Latin appanare, from Latin ad- + panis bread — more at food

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1602

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year