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subsidy definition

sub·sidy (subsə dē)

noun pl. subsidies -·dies

a grant of money; specif.,
  1. a grant of money from one government to another, as for military aid
  2. a government grant to a private enterprise considered of benefit to the public
  3. Historical in England, money granted by Parliament to the king

Etymology: ME < Anglo-Fr subsidie < L subsidium, auxiliary forces, reserve troops, aid, support < subsidere, to sit down, remain: see subside

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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