dowry

[ dou-ree ]

/ ˈdaʊ ri /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dowry ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dow·ries.

Also dower. the money, goods, or estate that a wife brings to her husband at marriage.

Archaic. a widow's dower.

a natural gift, endowment, talent, etc.

Nearby words

downwind, downy, downy mildew, downy woodpecker, downzone, dowry, dowsabel, dowse, dowser, dowsing rod, dowson

Also dowery.

Origin of dowry

1250–1300; Middle English dowerie < Anglo-French douarie < Medieval Latin dōtārium. See dot², -ary

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

Examples from the Web for dowry

Once the dowry has been cashed, there is no financial reason to keep the wife around.
Has Malala Become a Puppet of the West?|Nico Hines|April 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The woman is a commodity to make money—the dowry becomes a business transaction.
Has Malala Become a Puppet of the West?|Nico Hines|April 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The full document is quoted in a new book by Avi Raz, The Bride and the Dowry, complete with the typing errors I then made.
My Father's Peace Proposal|Raja Shehadeh|November 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The groom has to give the bride a dowry to make the contract valid, and that dowry is for her and her alone to use as she wishes.
Mohammad Was Not a Womanizer, and Other Common Misconceptions About Islam Debunked|Olga M. Davidson|September 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Girls are seen as a burden, as the family must pay a dowry to the men they eventually marry.
Models vs. Militants: Nisha Pahuja’s Film Shows Two Worlds of Indian Women|Abigail Pesta|May 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If he really cares for Cornelia, he will be moderate in his demands for the dowry.
A Friend of Caesar|William Stearns Davis
The American is insulted if mention of dowry is made in his wedding arrangements.
The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 4|Various
If either of the parents were dead, the dowry was given to the nearest relative.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXI, 1624|Various
If the maid's father will not give her to him, he shall give money according to the dowry, which virgins are wont to receive.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The husband succeeded to his wife's dowry, failing children or other near descendants.
The Two First Centuries of Florentine History|Pasquale Villari

British Dictionary definitions for dowry

dowry

/ (ˈdaʊərɪ) /

noun plural -ries

the money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage

(esp formerly) a gift made by a man to his bride or her parents

Christianity a sum of money required on entering certain orders of nuns

a natural talent or gift

obsolete a widow's dower

Word Origin for dowry

C14: from Anglo-French douarie, from Medieval Latin dōtārium; see dower

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

Culture definitions for dowry

dowry

Money, property, or material goods that a bride's family gives to the bridegroom or his family at the time of the wedding. In many cultures, the dowry not only helps to cement the relationship between the bride's and groom's families but also serves to reinforce traditional family roles and gender roles.