| 1. | Law. the portion of a deceased husband's real property allowed to his widow for her lifetime. |
| 2. | dowry (def. 1). |
| 3. | a natural gift or endowment. |
| 4. | to provide with a dower or dowry. |
| 5. | to give as a dower or dowry. |
dow·er (dou'ər) n.
To give a dower to; endow. [Middle English douere, from Old French douaire, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, dōārium, from Latin dōs, dōt-, dowry; see dō- in Indo-European roots.] |
dow·ry (dou'rē) n. pl. dow·ries
[Middle English douerie, from Anglo-Norman douarie, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, dōārium, dōāria, dower; see dower.] |
Money, property, or material goods that a bride's family gives to the bridegroom or his family at the time of the wedding. In many cultures, the dowry not only helps to cement the relationship between the bride's and groom's families but also serves to reinforce traditional family roles and gender roles.
dower