dower
|dow-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈdaʊ.ər/
🇬🇧
/ˈdaʊ.ə/
widow's lifetime portion
Etymology
'dower' originates from Old French (Anglo-Norman) 'douaire', ultimately from Latin 'dotārium', where the root is 'dos, dotis' meaning 'gift' or 'dowry'.
'dower' entered Middle English as 'dour', 'dower' or 'douer' from Old French 'douaire', which itself comes from Late Latin 'dotarium' derived from Latin 'dos'. Over time these forms converged into the modern English 'dower'.
Initially it referred broadly to a 'gift' or 'portion' (related to dowry), but over time it narrowed to mean specifically the legal share allotted to a widow (a lifetime provision).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a widow's legal right to a portion (often for life) of her deceased husband's estate; the share or provision made by law for a widow.
Under the statute, the widow claimed her dower from her husband's property.
Synonyms
Noun 2
historically or archaically, property or income settled on a woman at marriage (similar to dowry in some usages).
In earlier centuries a dower might be settled on a bride by her husband or his family.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to endow or provide with a dower; to settle (property or an income) on a woman as her dower.
He intended to dower his wife with a small estate for her security.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/02 02:42