dowager
[dou-uh-jer]
- a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, especially the widow of a king, duke, etc. (often used as an additional title to differentiate her from the wife of the present king, duke, etc.): a queen dowager; an empress dowager.
- an elderly woman of stately dignity, especially one of elevated social position: a wealthy dowager.
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- noting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a dowager: the dowager duchess; to prefer a dowager style of dress.
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Origin of dowager
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dowager
Contemporary Examples
When I tell her that Clooney is rumored to also kiss the Dowager Countess during the episode, she chuckles.
Elizabeth McGovern on the ‘Downton Abbey’ Xmas Album and Lady Grantham’s Kiss with George ClooneyMarlow Stern
November 13, 2014
Vacations are as mysterious to me as weekends are to the Dowager Countess of Grantham.
He called up his mother, the dowager countess, and asked her to come over and look after the children.
She went from dominatrix to dowager, swapping her D & Gs for sensible brogues, her sexy leather and lace for tweeds and twin sets.
Historical Examples
I promise you I will,' said the dowager—'here, take the rod!'
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
The two countesses had no outlines at all, and the dowager's was a demd outline.
The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas NicklebyCharles Dickens
The Dowager and "my daughter" left that dinner table trembling all over.
Cape Cod StoriesJoseph C. Lincoln
Milo and Eddie, backed by the Dowager and the Duchess, done the real fishing.
Cape Cod StoriesJoseph C. Lincoln
"I dote on 'em," comes back the Dowager, and "my daughter" owned up that she "adored" 'em.
Cape Cod StoriesJoseph C. Lincoln
dowager
- a widow possessing property or a title obtained from her husband
- (as modifier)the dowager duchess
- a wealthy or dignified elderly woman
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Word Origin
C16: from Old French douagiere, from douage dower
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for dowager
n.
1520s, from Middle French douagere "widow with a dower" literally "pertaining to a dower," from douage "dower," from douer "endow," from Latin dotare, from dos (genitive dotis) "dowry" (see dowry).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper