dower
[
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
(def 1).
3.
a natural gift or endowment.
verb (used with object)
4.
to provide with a dower or
dowry
.
5.
to give as a dower or
dowry
.
Origin
1250-1300;
Middle English
dowere
<
Old French
do
(
u
)
aire
<
Medieval Latin
dōtārium.
See
dot
2
,
-ary
Related forms
dowerless,
adjective
undowered,
adjective
Examples from the web for
dower
If the husband consents she does not have to pay back the
dower
.
At this point the husband must pay the wife the delayed component of the
dower
.
British Dictionary definitions for
dower
dower
/
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
(sense 1)
3.
a natural gift or talent
verb
4.
(
transitive
) to endow
Derived Forms
dowerless,
adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Old French
douaire,
from Medieval Latin
dōtārium,
from Latin
dōs
gift
Word Origin and History for
dower
n.
late 13c., from Old French
doaire
"dower, dowry, gift" (see
dowry
).