What does dower mean?
Definitions for dower
ˈdaʊ ərdow·er
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word dower.
Princeton's WordNet
dowry, dowery, dower, portionnoun
money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
dowerverb
a life estate to which a wife is entitled on the death of her husband
endow, dowerverb
furnish with an endowment
"When she got married, she got dowered"
Wiktionary
dowernoun
that part of a deceased's property provided to his widow
dowernoun
property given by a woman to her husband at marriage, a dowry.
dowerverb
to give a dower or dowry
dowerverb
to endow
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
DOWER, DOWERYnoun
Etymology: douaire, French.
His wife brought in dow’r Cilicia’s crown,
And in herself a greater dow’r alone. Dryden.His only daughter in a stranger’s pow’r;
For very want, he could not pay a dow’r. Alexander Pope, Epistles.His patrimonial territories of Flanders were partly in dower to his mother-in-law, and partly not serviceable, in respect of the late rebellions. Francis Bacon, Henry VII.
Ask me never so much dowery and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me; but give me the damsel to wife. Gen. xxxiv. 12.
What spreading virtue, what a sparkling fire;
How great, how plentiful, how rich a dow’r,
Do’st thou within this dying flesh inspire! Davies.
Wikipedia
Dower
Dower is a provision accorded traditionally by a husband or his family, to a wife for her support should she become widowed. It was settled on the bride (being gifted into trust) by agreement at the time of the wedding, or as provided by law. The dower grew out of the practice of bride price, which was given over to a bride's family well in advance for arranging the marriage, but during the early Middle Ages, was given directly to the bride instead. However, in popular parlance, the term may be used for a life interest in property settled by a husband on his wife at any time, not just at the wedding. The verb to dower is sometimes used.
ChatGPT
dower
Dower is a legal provision in certain jurisdictions which entitles a widow to a portion of her deceased husband's property for her support and the care of their minor children, usually one-third to one-half of the estate. This right may exist even if the husband left a will excluding the wife from his property. The principle behind this practice is to protect the surviving spouse from being left with no means of support after the death of her husband.
Webster Dictionary
Dowernoun
that with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift
Dowernoun
the property with which a woman is endowed
Dowernoun
that which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry
Dowernoun
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
Etymology: [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.]
Wikidata
Dower
Dower is a provision accorded by law, but traditionally by a husband or his family, to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband. It was settled on the bride by agreement at the time of the wedding, or provided by law. The dower grew out of the Germanic practice of bride price which was given over to a bride's family well in advance for arranging the marriage, but during the early Middle Ages, was given directly to the wife instead. However, in popular parlance, the term may be used for a life interest in property settled by a husband on his wife at any time, not just at the wedding. The verb is to dower. In popular usage, the term dower may be confused with: ⁕A dowager is a widow. The term is especially used of a noble or royal widow who no longer occupies the position she held during the marriage. For example, Queen Elizabeth was technically the dowager queen after the death of George VI, and Princess Lilian was the Dowager Duchess of Halland in heraldic parlance. Such a dowager will receive the income from her dower property.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Dower
dow′ėr, n. a jointure, that part of the husband's property which his widow enjoys during her life—sometimes used for Dow′ry.—adjs. Dow′able, that may be endowed; Dow′ered, furnished with dower.—n. Dow′er-house, the house set apart for the widow.—adj. Dow′erless. [O. Fr. douaire—Low L. dotarium—L. dotāre, to endow.]
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
DOWER
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dower is ranked #22733 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Dower surname appeared 1,127 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Dower.
78.8% or 889 total occurrences were White.
14% or 158 total occurrences were Black.
3.1% or 35 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
2.6% or 30 total occurrences were of two or more races.
0.8% or 10 total occurrences were Asian.
0.4% or 5 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
Matched Categories
Anagrams for dower »
rowed
worde
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of dower in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of dower in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Examples of dower in a Sentence
There is beauty but it is locked up inside one day my hope is that her bud too will blossom From the poem entitled The Dower Flower Andreas Simic
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for dower
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"dower." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/dower>.
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