dower UK [ˈdaʊ.ə(ɹ)]US /ˈdaʊ.əɹ/noun 3verb 2forms 3 noun3 •The part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate. •Property given by a groom to his bride or her family, at or before their wedding, in order to legitimize the marriage[…] how features are abroad, / I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty,— / The jewel in my dower,—I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you […] — 1610 •(no longer used) That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower! — 1600 verb2 •To give a dower or dowry to.He had married a lady well educated and softly nurtured, but not dowered with worldly wealth. — 1861 •To endow.It was nothing of this earth, but a piece of the great outside; and as such dowered with outside properties and obedient to outside laws. — 1927 formsdowered · dowering · dowers
