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De - Pt| English Dictionary: pittance | by the DICT Development Group |
| 2 results for pittance | |
| From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Pittance \Pit"tance\ (p[icr]t"t[ait]ns), 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. [bd]A good pitaunce.[b8] --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. [bd]The small pittance of learning they received.[b8] --Swift. The inconsiderable pittance of faithful professors. --Fuller. | |
