Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DO-NA'TION, n. [L. donatio, from dono, to give, Fr. donner.]

1. The act of giving or bestowing; a grant. That right we hold by his donation. – Milton.
2. In law, the act or contract by which a thing or the use of it is transferred to a person, or corporation, as a free gift. To be valid, a donation supposes capacity both in the donor to give, and donee to take, and requires consent, delivery and acceptance.
3. That which is given or bestowed; that which is transferred to another gratuitously, or without a valuable consideration; a gift; a grant. Donation is usually applied to things of more value than present. Mr. Boudinot made a donation of ten thousand dollars to the American Bible Society.