Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PEN'SION, n. [Fr. and Sp. id; It. pensione; from L. pensio, from pendo, pensum, to pay.]

1. An annual allowance of a sum of money to a person by government in consideration of past services, civil or military. Men often receive pensions for eminent services on retiring from office. But in particular, officers, soldiers and seamen receive pensions when they are disabled for further services.
2. An annual payment by an individual to an old or disabled servant.
3. An annual allowance made by government to indigent widows of officers killed or dying in public service.
4. Payment of money; rent. – 1 Esdras.
5. A yearly payment in the inns of court. – Eng.
6. A certain sum of money paid to a clergyman in lieu of tithesvCyc.
7. An allowance or annual payment, considered in the light of a bribe.