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Webster 1913 Edition

Dowager

Dow′a-ger

,
Noun.
[OF.
douagiere
, fr.
douage
dower. See
Dower
.]
1.
(Eng. Law)
A widow endowed, or having a jointure; a widow who either enjoys a dower from her deceased husband, or has property of her own brought by her to her husband on marriage, and settled on her after his decease.
Blount.
Burrill.
2.
A title given in England to a widow, to distinguish her from the wife of her husband’s heir bearing the same name; – chiefly applied to widows of personages of rank.
With prudes for proctors,
dowagers
for deans.
Tennyson.
Queen dowager
,
the widow of a king.

Webster 1828 Edition

Dowager

DOWAGER

,
Noun.
A widow with a jointure; a title particularly given to the widows of princes and persons of rank. The widow of a king is called queen dowager.

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