dower

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see also: Dower

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Pronunciation

• enPR: dauʹ-ər, IPA: /ˈdaʊ.əɹ/
• (British) IPA: [ˈdaʊ.ə(ɹ)]
• (America) IPA: [ˈdaʊ.ɚ]

Noun

dower (plural dowers)

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; dowry.
   • 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.

   • How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower!

   • Man in his primeval dower arrayed.

Antonyms

• curtesy

Related terms

• dow
• dowager
• dowry
• endow

Translations

• German: Leibzucht, Leibgedinge
• Italian: legittima

Translations

• French: douaire
• German: Wittum
• Italian: dotario, dote

Verb

dower (dowers, present participle dowering; past and past participle dowered)

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

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Dower

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Proper noun

1. Surname

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