dower

[dou-er]

noun

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

dowry(def 1).

a natural gift or endowment.

verb (used with object)

to provide with a dower or dowry.

to give as a dower or dowry.

Origin of dower

1250–1300; Middle English dowere < Old French do(u)aire < Medieval Latin dōtārium. See dot², -ary

Related formsdow·er·less, adjectiveun·dow·ered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dowerless

Historical Examples of dowerless

You are doing all you can to oppose me, and you have determined to marry the dowerless daughter of a poor soldier.
In The Palace Of The King
F. Marion Crawford
His father's objection to Miss Baker was solely because of her dowerless condition.
Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. I (of II)
Edmund Downey
The Florentine nobleman who is disposed to marry a dowerless American is yet to be heard from.
A Transient Guest
Edgar Saltus
The story in question is the famous one of the young man St. Nicholas and his gifts to the dowerless maidens.
St. Nicholas
George H. McKnight
My father was the younger son of one of our oldest earls; my mother the dowerless daughter of a Scotch peer.
Pelham, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for dowerless

dower

noun

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

an archaic word for dowry (def. 1)

a natural gift or talent

verb

(tr) to endow

Derived Formsdowerless, adjective

Word Origin for dower

C14: from Old French douaire, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, from Latin dōs gift

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

Word Origin and History for dowerless

dower

late 13c., from Old French doaire "dower, dowry, gift" (see dowry).