allowance
UK: əˈlaʊəns | US: əˈlaʊəns
n. a sum of money granted regularly for a specific purpose
n. the act of permitting something; tolerance
n. a deduction or adjustment made for a specific circumstance
The word "allowance" originates from the Old French "alouance," derived from "alouer" (to approve, assign), which itself comes from Latin "allaudare" (to praise, approve). The morpheme "allow" retains its core meaning of permission or approval, while the suffix "-ance" forms a noun indicating a state or action. Over time, "allowance" evolved to specifically denote a permitted amount (e.g., money or resources), reflecting its logical progression from general approval to quantified permission.
She receives a monthly allowance from her parents.
The teacher made an allowance for his late submission due to illness.
Tax allowances can reduce your taxable income.
The recipe includes an allowance for extra spices based on taste.
His strict diet had no allowance for sweets.