Before the advent of social insurance in the second half of the 19th century (see Old age, provision for; Pension), an annuity rent was a payment occurring at regular intervals to a recipient having transferred an amount of capital (principal sum), but not land (land rent; socage), to a third party. It thus to an extent corresponded to interest paid on the capital (but did not count towards paying off a debt), and therefore constituted an impo…