dower

[ dou-er ]

/ ˈdaʊ ər /

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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.

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Origin of dower

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

OTHER WORDS FROM dower

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dower in a sentence

She is dowerless and friendless, except her young brother and an old grandfather, who maybe sleeps in his grave by this time.
The Settlers|William H. G. Kingston
Perhaps, too, he might expect murmurs at his choice of a dowerless princess from his vassals of the Tirol.
Two Penniless Princesses|Charlotte M. Yonge
Dolokhov was a suitable and in some respects a brilliant match for the dowerless, orphan girl.
War and Peace|Leo Tolstoy
Mr. Bragg was a fine match for a dowerless girl:—even for a (dowerless) Miss Cheffington.
That Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 2(of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope

One of these was the duty incumbent on a dowerless young lady to marry well.
That Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 1(of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for dower

dower

/ (ˈdaʊə) /

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 forms of dower

dowerless, 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

dower

Origin of dower

OTHER WORDS FROM dower

Words related to dower

How to use dower in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dower

Derived forms of dower

Word Origin for dower