dower

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. ] 1. That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift. [ 1913 Webster ]

How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower! Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man in his primeval dower arrayed. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The property with which a woman is endowed; especially: (a) That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His wife brought in dower Cilicia's crown. Dryden.

(b) (Law) 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. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. See under Assignment. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of dower; having no marriage portion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]