From the
1755 edition of
Samuel Johnson's
Dictionary :
PE'NSION n. s. [pension, Fr.]
An allowance made to any one without an equivalent.
In England it is generally understood to mean pay given
to a state hireling for treason to his country.
A charity bestowed on the education of her young subjects
has more merit than a thousand pensions to those of a higher fortune.
--- Addison's Guardian No 105.
He has liv'd with the great without flattery, and been a friend
to men in power without pensions
--- Pope.
To P
ENSION v. a. [from the noun.]
To
support by an
arbitrary allowance.
One might expect to see medals of France in the highest perfection,
when there is a society pensioned and set apart for the designing of them.
--- Addison on Ancient Medals.
The hero William and the martyr Charles,
One knighted Blackmore, one pension'd Quarles.
--- Pope