early 15c., "a yearly allowance, grant payable in annual installments," from Anglo-French and Old French annuité (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin annuitatem (nominative annuitas), from Latin annus "year" (see annual (adj.)). Meaning "an investment that entitles one to equal annual payments" is from 1690s.[annuity etymology, annuity origin, 英语词源]