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pittancemore about pittance

pittance


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pittance  \Pit"tance\  (p[i^]t"tans),  n.  [OE.  pitance,  pitaunce 
  F.  pitance;  cf  It  pietanza  LL  pitancia  pittantia 
  pictantia  perh.  fr  L.  pietas  pity,  piety,  or  perhaps  akin 
  to  E.  petty.  Cf  {Petty},  and  {Pity}.] 
  1.  An  allowance  of  food  bestowed  in  charity;  a  mess  of 
  victuals;  hence  a  small  charity  gift;  a  dole.  ``A  good 
  pitaunce.''  --Chaucer. 
 
  One  half  only  of  this  pittance  was  ever  given  him  in 
  money.  --Macaulay. 
 
  2.  A  meager  portion,  quantity,  or  allowance;  an 
  inconsiderable  salary  or  compensation.  ``The  small 
  pittance  of  learning  they  received.''  --Swift. 
 
  The  inconsiderable  pittance  of  faithful  professors. 
  --Fuller. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  pittance 
  n  :  an  inadequate  payment;  "they  work  all  day  for  a  mere 
  pittance" 




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