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

She left him two years ago. got her final divorce decree only a fortnight ago, now lives in Los Angeles, hopeless of getting a dower share in his inheritance.

From Time Magazine Archive

She will bring him a dower of $25,000 a year.

From Time Magazine Archive

When Martha Washington died in May 1802, some of the Custis dower slaves were divided among her four grandchildren, and others were freed.

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