Dower

dow'er, n. Endowment; gift; property with which a woman is endowed, esp. that which a woman brings to a husband in marriage, or that portion of a man's real estate which his widow enjoys during her life, or to which a woman entitled after the death of her husband. [OF. doaire, douaire, LL. dotarium, fr. L. dotare, -atum, to endow, dos, dot is, gift, dowry, Gr. dos, a gift, Skr. da, to give.] — Dow'ered -Srd, a. Furnished with dower, or a portion. — Dow'erle , a. Destitute of, etc. — Dow'ry, -rT, n. A gift the estate whicb a woman brings to her husband in marriage; for tion given with a wife; dower. — Dot, dot, n. In ranee and in Louisiana, a dowry. [F., fr. L. dos.] — Do'tal, a. Pert, to, constituting, or comprised in, etc. — Dota'tion, n. Act of bestowing a dowry on a woman, or of establishing funds for the support of (an institution, charity, etc.). — Dow'able, a. Capable of being endowed: entitled to dower. — Dow'ager, -jer, n. (Eng. Law.) A widow endowed, or having a jointure. A title given in Eng. to a widow, to distinguish her from the wife of her husband's heir bearing the same name. [OF. douagiere.] — Queen dowager. The widow of a king.