appanage

or ap·a·nage

[ ap-uh-nij ]

noun

1. land or some other source of revenue assigned for the maintenance of a member of the family of a ruling house.
2. whatever belongs rightfully or appropriately to one's rank or station in life.
3. a natural or necessary accompaniment; adjunct.

appanage

/ ˈæpənɪdʒ /

noun

1. land or other provision granted by a king for the support of a member of the royal family, esp a younger son
2. a natural or customary accompaniment or perquisite, as to a job or position

Word History and Origins

Origin of appanage¹

1595–1605; < Middle French, Old French apanage, apeinaige, equivalent to apan ( er ) to endow (a younger son or daughter) with a maintenance (< Medieval Latin appānāre; ap- ap- ¹ + -pānāre, verbal derivative of Latin pānis bread; compare Old Provençal apanar to nourish) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of appanage¹

C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin appānāgium, from appānāre to provide for, from Latin pānis bread

Example Sentences

For the internal regulation of the conscience it had erected the institution of auricular confession, which by this time had become almost the exclusive appanage of the priesthood.

From Project Gutenberg

The unsettled dispute about the appanage had been aggravated by the struggle over their mother's will.

From Project Gutenberg

The Romans retained it for as long a period as the Phœnicians; and after being ravaged by Goths and Vandals, it was for three and a half centuries an appanage of the crown of Byzantium.

From Project Gutenberg

A prince to whom an appanage has been granted.

From Project Gutenberg

Dunois reconquered for them their hereditary rights, the extensive appanages of the house of Orleans.

From Project Gutenberg