Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

dowagerism

 - 2 dictionary results

dow⋅a⋅ger

[dou-uh-jer]
–noun
1. a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, esp. the widow of a king, duke, etc. (often used as an additional title to differentiate her from the wife of the present king, duke, etc.): a queen dowager; an empress dowager.
2. an elderly woman of stately dignity, esp. one of elevated social position: a wealthy dowager.
–adjective
3. noting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a dowager: the dowager duchess; to prefer a dowager style of dress.

Origin:
1520–30; < MF douag(i)ere, equiv. to douage dower (see endow, -age ) + -iere, fem. of -ier -ier 2


dow⋅a⋅ger⋅ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dowagerism
Word Origin & History

dowager 
1530, from M.Fr. douagere "pertaining to a dower," from douage "dower," from douer "endow," from L. dotare, from dos (gen. dotis) "dowry" (see dowry).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see dowagerism on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: