Dower

Pronunciation

• enPR: dauʹ-É™r, IPA: /ˈdaÊŠ.əɹ/
• UK IPA: ˈdaÊŠ.É™(ɹ)
• US IPA: ˈdaÊŠ.Éš
• Rhymes: -aÊŠ.É™(ɹ)
• Homophones: dour (for some speakers)

Origin

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

Full definition of dower

Noun

1. (legal) The part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate.
2. (legal) Property given by a groom directly to his bride at or before their wedding in order to legitimize the marriage.
• 1610, , by William 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. DaviesHow great, how plentiful, how rich a dower!
• WordsworthMan in his primeval dower arrayed.

Antonyms

• curtesy
• dowry

Related terms

• dowager
• endow

Verb

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

Anagrams

• rowed, worde