disendow

[ dis-en-dou ]

verb (used with object)

1. to deprive (a church, school, etc.) of endowment.

disendow

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈdaʊ /

verb

1. tr to take away an endowment from

Derived Forms

• ˌdisenˈdowment, noun
• ˌdisenˈdower, noun

Other Words From

• disen·dower noun
• disen·dowment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disendow¹

First recorded in 1860–65; dis- ¹ + endow

Example Sentences

The petitioners pleaded that, apart from the enormous gain to the finances of the State, and to a proposed new system of almshouses, it would be a positive advantage to disendow idle and luxurious prelates and monks, “the which life and evil example of them hath been so long vicious that all the common people, both lords and simple commons, be now so vicious and infected through boldship of their sin, that scarce any man dreadeth God nor the Devil.”

From Project Gutenberg

The Government could do nothing that would tend to raise a suspicion of their sincerity in proposing to disendow the Irish Church, and to withdraw all State endowments from all religious communities in Ireland, but with these conditions accepted, all other matters connected with the question might, the Queen thought, thus become the subject of discussion and negotiation. 

From Project Gutenberg

It pretends to disendow the State Church, which it re-endows with about five-eighths of the Church property in a capitalized shape.

From Project Gutenberg

He resisted the attempt of the parliament of 1404 to disendow the church, but failed to induce Henry to pardon Archbishop Scrope in 1405.

From Project Gutenberg

But the State has never endowed the Church of England, and it can only disendow it in the sense that it can rob it of its own endowments—just as it can, by Act of Parliament, rob any business man of his money.

From Project Gutenberg