Definitions for dowry
ˈdaʊ ridow·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. dowry, dowery, dower, portionnoun

   money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.7 / 3 votes

1. dowrynoun

   Property or payment given by one spouse or his/her family to the other spouse or her/his family at time of marriage. (In some cultures, the dowry is given from wife to husband, in others vice versa.)

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Dowre, Dowrynoun

   Etymology: douaire, French.

   1. A portion given with a wife.

   I could marry this wench for this dowre. Philip Sidney.

   And ask no other dowry but such another jest. William Shakespeare.

   The king must die, that I may make you great,
   And give a crown in dowry with my love. John Dryden, Span. Fry.

   Tethys all her waves in dowry gives. John Dryden, Virgil.

   2. A reward paid for a wife.

   Thine own hand
   An hundred of the faithless foe shall slay,
   And for a dowre a hundred foreskins pay. Abraham Cowley, Davideis.

   3. A gift; a fortune given.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Dowry

   A dowry is a payment, such as property or money, paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment by the groom, or his family, to the bride, or her family, dowry is the wealth transferred from the bride, or her family, to the groom, or his family. Similarly, dower is the property settled on the bride herself, by the groom at the time of marriage, and which remains under her ownership and control.Dowry is an ancient custom that is already mentioned in some of the earliest writings, and its existence may well predate records of it. Dowries continue to be expected and demanded as a condition to accept a marriage proposal in some parts of the world, mainly in parts of Asia, The custom of dowry is most common in cultures that are strongly patrilineal and that expect women to reside with or near their husband's family (patrilocality). Dowries have long histories in Europe, South Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dowry

   A dowry is a payment, property, or valuable assets that a bride's family or bride herself brings to her husband or his family upon marriage. It is a traditional practice in some cultures to provide financial or material support to the groom as a form of security or support for the newlywed couple.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Dowrynoun

   a gift; endowment

2. Dowrynoun

   the money, goods, or estate, which a woman brings to her husband in marriage; a bride's portion on her marriage. See Note under Dower

3. Dowrynoun

   a gift or presents for the bride, on espousal. See Dower

4. Etymology: [Contr. from dowery; cf. LL. dotarium. See Dower.]

FreebaseRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Dowry

   A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to a marriage. Dowry contrasts with bride price, which is paid by the groom or his family to the bride's parents, and with dower, which is property given to the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both dowry and bride price. Dowry is an ancient custom, and its existence may well predate records of it. Dowries continue to be expected in some parts of the world, mainly India. There are several possible functions for a dowry system. One function of a dowry may be to provide the husband with "seed money" or property for the establishment of a new household and to help feed and protect the family. Another may be to provide the wife and children with some support if he were to die. Another function of the dowry may be as compensation for bride price. This may be the case in cultures where the dowry and bride price are both customary. Many authors believe that the giving and receiving of dowry reflects social status and even the effort to climb higher in a social hierarchy.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Dowry

   dow′ri, n. the property which a woman brings to her husband at marriage—sometimes used for dower. [See Dower.]

Matched Categories

1. • Gift

Anagrams for dowry »

1. rowdy

2. wordy

How to pronounce dowry?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say dowry in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of dowry in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of dowry in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of dowry in a Sentence

1. Vijith Nair:

   If you are a girl who has a good education, and you're from a good family, it doesn't matter, if you want to get your daughter married, and you don't give dowry, you're not going to find a good, educated man. That's the system in Kerala.

2. Pete Snyder:

   I am a world certified BBQ judge, i married a girl from Memphis, Tenn., and the BBQ came as a dowry. We actually have a BBQ smoker—Pete’s Pig Rig.

3. Joshua Kaputah:

   Some families are hungry and the prospect of receiving two or three cows as dowry is quite tempting.

4. Vibhuti Patel:

   They would see a daughter as a liability. A daughter means you have to spend. Sons are called blank checks, (In-laws) know they're going to get easy money from dowry.

5. Pete Snyder:

   I married a girl from Memphis, Tenn., and the BBQ came as a dowry. We actually have a BBQ smoker—Pete’s Pig Rig.

Popularity rank by frequency of use