dower (Meaning)

Wordnet

dower (n)

money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage

a life estate to which a wife is entitled on the death of her husband

Wordnet

dower (v)

furnish with an endowment

Webster

dower (n.)

That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.

The property with which a woman is endowed

That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry.

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.

dower Sentence Examples

  1. The dower rights of widows were established in the Middle Ages to protect their financial security after their husband's death.
  2. Under the common law, a widow was entitled to a dower, which was a life estate in one-third of her husband's real property.
  3. The dower right attached to all of the husband's real property that he owned during the marriage, regardless of whether it was in his possession at the time of his death.
  4. The widow's dower right was not affected by the husband's will, and she could not be deprived of it except by her own act.
  5. In some jurisdictions, the widow's dower right could be barred by a jointure, which was a settlement of property made on the wife in lieu of her dower.
  6. The dower right was gradually abolished in most jurisdictions during the 19th and 20th centuries, as laws were enacted to give widows a greater share of their husband's estate.
  7. In some states, the dower right has been replaced by a statutory elective share, which gives the widow a fixed percentage of her husband's estate, regardless of whether he died testate or intestate.
  8. The dower right is a valuable property right that can provide a widow with financial security after her husband's death.
  9. If you are a widow, you should consult with an attorney to determine if you are entitled to a dower right.
  10. The dower right is a complex legal concept, and it is important to seek legal advice if you have any questions about it.

FAQs About the word dower

money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage, a life estate to which a wife is entitled on the death of her husband, furnish with an endowmen

presentation, endowment, contribution, present, tithe,dowry, alms, gift, bestowal, philanthropy

No antonyms found.

The dower rights of widows were established in the Middle Ages to protect their financial security after their husband's death.

Under the common law, a widow was entitled to a dower, which was a life estate in one-third of her husband's real property.

The dower right attached to all of the husband's real property that he owned during the marriage, regardless of whether it was in his possession at the time of his death.

The widow's dower right was not affected by the husband's will, and she could not be deprived of it except by her own act.