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dower house

American  

noun

British.
  1. the dwelling that is intended for or occupied by the widowed mother of the owner of an ancestral estate.


dower house British  

noun

  1. a house set apart for the use of a widow, often on her deceased husband's estate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dower house

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Also of her dower house, with all its beautiful furnishings.

From Playing With Fire by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

The two aunts of these young ladies lived for many years in the dower house upon my estate in Hampshire.

From Anna the Adventuress by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim

It has been used as a dower house in the family for many years; and, pending the search for your father, I obtained permission for them to continue to reside there.

From With Kitchener in the Soudan A Story of Atbara and Omdurman by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

What I propose is that your father and mother shall come home and take possession of the dower house, and that your father should act as my agent.

From Maori and Settler A Story of The New Zealand War by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

The Hermitage was properly the dower house of the Towers, but for the last two generations had not been required as such.

From The Shadow of the East by E. M. (Edith Maude) Hull

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