dower

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• enPR: dauʹ-ər, IPA^(key): /ˈdaʊ.əɹ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): [ˈdaʊ.ə(ɹ)]
• (US) IPA^(key): [ˈdaʊ.ɚ]
• Rhymes: -aʊ.ə(ɹ)
• Homophone: dour (for some speakers)

Noun

dower (plural dowers)

1. (law) The part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate.
2. (law) Property given by a groom directly to his bride at or before their wedding in order to legitimize the marriage.
   • 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.
   • Sir J. Davies

     How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower!

   • Wordsworth

     Man in his primeval dower arrayed.

4. (archaic) dowry
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 6:

     In New Bedford, fathers, they say, give whales for dowers to their daughters, and portion off their nieces with a few porpoises a-piece.

Verb

dower (third-person singular simple present dowers, present participle dowering, simple past and past participle dowered)

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

Anagrams

• rowed, worde