Definitions for: Dower


[n] a life estate to which a wife is entitled on the death of her husband
[n] money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
[v] furnish with an endowment; "When she got married, she got dowered"



Webster (1913) Definition: Dow"er, n. [F. douaire, LL. dotarium, from L. dotare to
endow, portion, fr. dos dower; akin to Gr. ? 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.]

His wife brought in dower Cilicia's crown.
--Dryden.
(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.

Note: 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.

Synonyms: dowery, dowry, endow

See Also: benefice, estate for life, gift, gift, give, life estate, present

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