Pension
/ˈpɛn.ʃən/noun
A regular payment made to someone, typically after retirement.
Did you know?Pension comes through French and Latin from a root meaning “to weigh out” or “pay,” the same ancient idea behind money being measured out like an exact, almost ritual offering.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spend-
“to weigh out, make an offering, pay”
Latin
Latin
pendere
“to weigh, pay out”
Late Latin
Latin
pensio
“a payment, installment”
Old French
Old French
pension
“a payment, allowance, or board”
14th Century
English
pension
“a payment or allowance, especially to a retainer or dependent”
Modern English
English
pension
“a regular retirement payment”