n. [ F. douaire, LL. dotarium, from L. dotare to endow, portion, fr. dos dower; akin to Gr. &unr_; gift, and to L. dare to give. See 1st Date, and cf. Dot dowry, Dotation. ]
How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower! Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]
Man in his primeval dower arrayed. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
His wife brought in dower Cilicia's crown. Dryden.
☞ Dower, in modern use, is and should be distinguished from dowry. The former is a provision for a widow on her husband's death; the latter is a bride's portion on her marriage. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]
Assignment of dower.
p. a. Furnished with, or as with, dower or a marriage portion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Destitute of dower; having no marriage portion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. See Dower. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ Cf. OF. endouairer. See Dower, Endow. ] To endow. [ Obs. ] Waterhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who endows. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One that throws a shade, or shadow, over anything. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A man who has lost his wife by death, and has not married again. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The state of being a widower. [ 1913 Webster ]