dower

American  

[dou-er] / ˈdaʊ ər /

noun

1. Law. the portion of a deceased husband's real property allowed to his widow for her lifetime.

2. dowry.

3. a natural gift or endowment.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a dower or dowry.

2. to give as a dower or dowry.

dower British  

/ ˈdaʊə /

noun

1. the life interest in a part of her husband's estate allotted to a widow by law

2. an archaic word for dowry

3. a natural gift or talent

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verb

1. (tr) to endow

Other Word Forms

• dowerless adjective
• undowered adjective

Etymology

Origin of dower

1250–1300; Middle English dowere < Old French do ( u ) aire < Medieval Latin dōtārium. See dot ², -ary

Example Sentences

Visitors made note of his slaves, and the vast number of "dower" slaves at Mount Vernon estate.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2020

In order to qualify as worthy husbands, Singerman says, Egyptian grooms and their families need to save up for dower money or jewellery to give the bride.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2015

Wealthy "Daddy" Browning married her in 1926 when she was 15, cut her out of his will before he died in 1934, but she got dower rights of $5,000 a year.

From Time Magazine Archive

Its gaily painted kitchen cabinets, dower chests, desks and tables, Bethlehem painted glass, grotesque Germanic Toby jugs and brightly colored tinware are far more colorful than the prim, functional antiques of New England.

From Time Magazine Archive

They were Custis dower slaves, and if they escaped, he would have to repay the Custis estate.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis