alimony

Known since 1655, from Latin alimōnia (“food, support, nourishment, sustenance”) (English aliment, as in alimentary), itself from alere (“to nourish”) + -mōnia (“action, state, condition”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.ɪ.mə.ni/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.ə.moʊ.ni/

• Audio (US)

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alimony (countable and uncountable, plural alimonies)

1. (law) A court-mandated allowance made to a former spouse by a divorced or legally separated person.

   Synonym: maintenance

   • 1985, Joel Schumacher; Carl Kurlander, St. Elmo's Fire, spoken by Kevin Dolenz (Andrew McCarthy):

     Who won, huh? Nobody. Used to be sex was the only free thing, No longer. Alimony… palimony… it's all financial. Love is an illusion.

2. The means to support life.

• aliment
• alimentary

• child support

• Molniya