jointure

American  

[join-cher] / ˈdʒɔɪn tʃər /

noun

Law.

1. an estate or property settled on a woman in consideration of marriage, to be owned by her after her husband's death.

2. Obsolete. a joint tenancy limited in favor of a husband and wife.

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jointure British  

/ ˈdʒɔɪntʃə /

noun

1. law

   1. provision made by a husband for his wife by settling property upon her at marriage for her use after his death

   2. the property so settled

2. obsolete the act of joining or the condition of being joined

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Other Word Forms

• jointured adjective
• jointureless adjective
• unjointured adjective

Etymology

Origin of jointure

1325–75; Middle English < Old French < Latin junctūra, equivalent to junct- ( joint ) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

Nonetheless, for the upper classes, haggling over dowries and jointures ensured that matrimony was often approached like a business arrangement.

From Time

Miss Lumley became Mrs. Sterne in due time, and brought to her husband a modest jointure, and another living at Stillington, so that he was now a pluralist, although far from rich.

From Project Gutenberg

Worse still, he refused to send her even a portion of her jointure.

From Project Gutenberg

To Joseph he left two thousand pounds; and the estate in Cornwall, to my mother, in addition to her jointure.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, of course her jointure will be paid.

From Project Gutenberg