dow·ry

(dou′rē)

n. pl. dow·ries

1. Money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.

2. A sum of money required of a postulant at a convent.

3. A natural endowment or gift; a talent.

4. Archaic See dower.

[Middle English douerie, from Anglo-Norman douarie, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, dōārium, dōāria, dower; see dower.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dowry

(ˈdaʊərɪ)

n, pl -ries

1. (Sociology) the money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage

2. (Sociology) (esp formerly) a gift made by a man to his bride or her parents

3. (Ecclesiastical Terms) Christianity a sum of money required on entering certain orders of nuns

4. a natural talent or gift

5. (Sociology) obsolete a widow's dower

[C14: from Anglo-French douarie, from Medieval Latin dōtārium; see dower]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dow•ry

(ˈdaʊ ri)

n., pl. -ries.

1. Also, dower. the money, goods, etc., that a wife brings to her husband at marriage.

2. a natural gift; talent.

3. Archaic. a widow's dower.

[1250–1300; Middle English dowerie < Anglo-French douarie < Medieval Latin dōtārium. See dot², -ary]

Dowry

a portion given with a bride; a gift of nature or fortune; a lot, a great deal—Slang Dictionary, 1874.

Example: dowry of parny [rain or water], 1874.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

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

dower, dowery, portion

gift - something acquired without compensation

dowry

noun portion, marriage settlement, dot (archaic), lobola (S. African) The money from her dowry was invested.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

مَهْر، بائِنَه

věno

medgift

Mitgift

myötäjäiset

dot

mirazprćija

hozomány

heimanmundur

dote

dos

kraitis

pūrs

medgift

dote

приданое

veno

çeyizdrahomabaşlık

嫁妆

dowry

[ˈdaʊrɪ] N → dote f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

dowry

[ˈdaʊəri] n → dot f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

dowry

n → Mitgift f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

dowry

[ˈdaʊrɪ] n → dote f

dowry

(ˈdauəri) – plural ˈdowries – noun

money and property brought by a woman to her husband when they marry.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

He did not know at all how much he had, what his debts amounted to, or what dowry he could give Vera.

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Also, she says that he desires to give me a dowry. Away with them all!

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"To the first condition," I answered, "I agree with all my heart, and I will give you an ample dowry. To the second I also agree, I only beg you to spare her life."

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Almost in the cradle are we apportioned with heavy words and worths: "good" and "evil"--so calleth itself this dowry. For the sake of it we are forgiven for living.

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She had gone to Ergushovo, the estate that had been her dowry, and the one where in spring the forest had been sold.

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And yet, if the truth must be told, this wretch, who had stolen what was the boast of man, and the dowry of a woman, did not consider himself as a thief.

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Father Snail could not speak, he was too much affected; and so they gave them as a dowry and inheritance, the whole forest of burdocks, and said--what they had always said--that it was the best in the world; and if they lived honestly and decently, and increased and multiplied, they and their children would once in the course of time come to the manor-house, be boiled black, and laid on silver dishes.

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His marriage would supply him with the funds needed for repaying the money, and the profits of his business would provide, in course of time, for restoring the dowry of his wife.

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"Oh," said Newman, "her talent is in itself a dowry."

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Now you must set to work at your linen for your dowry, for nothing must be lacking if you are to become the wife of our neighbour, the mole!'

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The two elder sisters had agreed that all was to be sacrificed by them, if need be, for Aglaya's sake; her dowry was to be colossal and unprecedented.

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The servant had further informed him that he was now going to the Indies with the appointment of Judge of the Supreme Court of Mexico; and he had learned, likewise, that the young lady was his daughter, whose mother had died in giving birth to her, and that he was very rich in consequence of the dowry left to him with the daughter.

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