dower
LowFormal, Legal, Historical, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A widow's share for life of her deceased husband's estate.
A natural gift, talent, or endowment; also, the property a woman brings to her husband at marriage (dowry).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In modern legal contexts, largely replaced by terms like 'elective share' or 'statutory share'. The 'dower' is a right of the wife, while 'dowry' is property brought by the wife. Can be used metaphorically for innate qualities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term in historical/legal contexts. The concept is largely archaic in common law in both regions, superseded by modern inheritance statutes.
Connotations
Connotes antiquity, formal law, or historical settings (e.g., novels, period dramas).
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both varieties. Slightly more likely in British historical or legal writing due to the longer continuity of feudal law terms.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be entitled to a dowerto have a right of dower in [property]to endow someone with a dowerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dower house (a house on an estate intended for a widow)”
- “to be dowered with (to be endowed with a talent)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, or gender studies contexts discussing property law.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be encountered in historical novels or films.
Technical
A precise term in historical English common law and in genealogy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The estate was settled to dower the widow adequately.
- She was dowered with a sharp wit and a kind heart.
American English
- The old will sought to dower his wife with the summer house.
- He felt nature had dowered him with great stamina.
adjective
British English
- The dower rights were clearly outlined in the feudal charter.
- They met in the quaint dower house on the estate.
American English
- The dower interest in the land complicated the sale.
- She lived in the former dower cottage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the old story, the queen received a castle as her dower.
- Historical records show she successfully claimed her dower right to a third of the manor's income.
- The poet was dowered with an extraordinary imagination.
- The abolition of common law dower in the 19th century significantly altered women's property rights.
- The novel's heroine, though not dowered with wealth, possessed an indomitable spirit.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DOWER is what a WIDOW is OWED. Think: DOW (like dowry) + ER (for 'her' right).
Conceptual Metaphor
INHERITANCE IS A RIGHT/PROVISION; TALENT IS AN INHERITED GIFT (e.g., 'dowered with intelligence').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дарить' (to give as a gift).
- Often mistakenly equated directly with 'приданое' (dowry). 'Dower' is received by the widow FROM the husband's estate; 'dowry' is brought BY the wife TO the marriage.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dower' to mean 'dowry'.
- Using it in a modern legal context instead of contemporary terms.
- Pronouncing it like 'tower' (/taʊə/) instead of /daʊə/.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern legal concept that has largely replaced 'dower'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'dowry' is property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage. A 'dower' is the portion of a deceased husband's estate allotted to his widow for life.
It is largely archaic. Most jurisdictions have replaced it with statutory inheritance laws (e.g., 'elective share' or 'spousal share') that apply equally to widows and widowers.
Yes, though it's rare. It means to provide with a dower or, more commonly in literary use, to endow with a gift or quality (e.g., 'dowered with grace').
A dower house is a house on a large estate intended as the residence for the widow (the dowager) of the estate owner, often after the heir has taken over the main house.