Endow, endue (Hastings' Dictionary)

These words are distinct in origin. Endow is fr. Lat. in-datere (fr. dotem, a dowry), through the Fr. en-douer. Its proper meaning is, therefore, to provide with a dowrv. Endue is fr. Lat. indiicere, through the old hr. induire, and properly means ' to lead on,' ' intro- duce.' But a supposed derivation from Lat. in- duere, 'to put on (clothing),' helped to give tho word its meanings of 'clothe,' and then 'invest' with some quality or spiritual gift.

Then this was so close to the meaning of ' endow,' and the spelling was so uncertain, that the two words were often confounded. When the spelling is 'endow' the meaning is rarely wrong ; but ' endue ' (often spelt 'indue' from the influence of Lat. indtiere) took on all the meanings of botli words. In AV tliey occur Gn 3u-" ' God hath endued me with a good dowry' (iji, RV 'endowed'); Ex 22" 'he shall surely endow her to be his wife' (in: ■iraP".

RV 'pay a dowTy for her'); 2 Ch 2'2-i« ' endued (1611 ' indued ') with prudence . . under- standing' (i'lV) ; Sir 17' 'he endued them with strength' (iviSvaip) ; Lk 24^' 'till ye be endued (1611 'indued') with power from on high' (eis ov 4pSv(7-qaBe, RV 'be clothed'); and Ja 3" 'endued (1611 'indued') with knowledge' (iiriaT-fjixiiip , RV 'understanding'). That the distinction between the words was not always forgotten about 1611 is shown by this quot. from Hieron (1616), Works, ii.

37, ' Was it with what religion is the woman endewed, or with what portion is shee endowed ? ' J. HA.STINOS.