Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AN-NUITY, n. [Fr. annuité, from annus, a year. See Annual.]

A sum of money, payable yearly, to continue for a given number of years, for life or forever; an annual income, charged on the person of the grantor; or an annual allowance. Governments often borrow money upon annuities, that is, for a certain sum advanced on loan, the government contracts to pay the lender a specific sum, for life, or for a term of years. The stock created by such loans is transferable.