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Webster 1913 Edition

Dower

Dow′er

,
Noun.
[F.
douaire
, LL.
dotarium
, from L.
dotare
to endow, portion, fr.
dos
dower; akin to Gr. [GREEK] gift, and to L.
dare
to give. See 1st
Date
, and cf.
Dot
dowry,
Dotation
.]
1.
That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.
How great, how plentiful, how rich a
dower
!
Sir J. Davies.
Man in his primeval
dower
arrayed.
Wordsworth.
2.
The property with which a woman is endowed
; especially:
(a)
That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry.
[Obs.]
(b)
(Law)
That portion of the real estate of a man which his widow enjoys during her life, or to which a woman is entitled after the death of her husband.
Blackstone.
☞ Dower, in modern use, is and should be distinguished from dowry. The former is a provision for a widow on her husband’s death; the latter is a bride's portion on her marriage.
Abbott.
Assignment of dower
.
See under
Assignment
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Dower

DOWER

,
Noun.
[Gr., a gift; to give. L.]
1.
That portion of the lands or tenements of a man which his widow enjoys during her life, after the death of her husband. [This is the usual present signification of the word.]
2.
The property which a woman brings to her husband in marriage.
3.
The gift of a husband for a wife.
Ask me never so much dowry and gift. Genesis 34.
4.
Endowment; gift.
How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower.

Definition 2024

dower

dower

English

Noun

dower ‎(plural dowers)

  1. (law) The part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate.
  2. (law) Property given by a groom directly to his bride at or before their wedding in order to legitimize the marriage.
    • 1610, The Tempest, by Shakespeare, act 3 scene 1
      […] how features are abroad, / I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty,— / The jewel in my dower,—I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you […]
  3. (obsolete) That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.
    • Sir J. Davies
      How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower!
    • Wordsworth
      Man in his primeval dower arrayed.

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Verb

dower ‎(third-person singular simple present dowers, present participle dowering, simple past and past participle dowered)

  1. To give a dower or dowry.
  2. To endow.

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English dowere, from Old French doeire, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, from Latin dōs.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: dauʹ-ər, IPA(key): /ˈdaʊ.əɹ/
  • (UK) IPA(key): [ˈdaʊ.ə(ɹ)]
  • (US) IPA(key): [ˈdaʊ.ɚ]
  • Rhymes: -aʊ.ə(ɹ)
  • Homophone: dour (for some speakers)

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