dower etymology

Etymology:

"Dower" originates from the Old French word "douaire," which in turn is derived from the Latin "dos," meaning "dowry" or "gift."

Meaning:

In law, a dower is the portion of property that is set aside for a widow from the estate of her deceased husband. It is a life estate, meaning that the widow has the right to use and enjoy the property during her lifetime, but she cannot sell or give it away.

Origin:

The concept of dower dates back to ancient times. In Roman law, a widow was entitled to a portion of her husband's estate as her "dos," which was intended to provide her with economic security. This practice was adopted into medieval European legal systems, where it was known as "dower."

Over time, dower became a common law right in England and was later incorporated into the legal systems of many other countries. It was originally intended to protect widows who were left dependent on their husbands' estates, and it also served to ensure that women had some form of financial security after their husbands' deaths.

In modern law, dower rights vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some countries, dower is still a legal right, while in others it has been abolished or modified. However, the underlying principle of providing economic security for widows remains a fundamental consideration in estate planning.

dower relate terms

  • dowry

    Etymology Middle English dowarie dowaire Old French douaire Late Latin Vulgar Latin

  • dower

    Etymology Dower originates from the Old French word douaire which in turn is derive

  • anecdote

    Etymology French anecdote unpublished or private story Late Latin anekdotos unpubli

  • antidote

    Etymology Anti against dote given Meaning A substance that counteracts or neut

  • betray

    Etymology The word betray comes from the Old French word betreier which in turn come

  • condone

    Etymology The word condone comes from the Latin phrase con donare which means to g

  • dacha

    Etymology and Origin Dacha is a Russian word that refers to a small cottage or country h

  • dado

    Origin Latin datum meaning thing given Meaning A piece of information espe

  • data

    Data Etymology From the Latin word datum meaning given Meaning A piece of i

  • date

    Etymology The word date has its origins in the Late Latin word data which means gi

  • dative

    Etymology The word dative originates from the Latin word dativus which means giving

  • deodand

    Etymology The word deodand is derived from two Latin words Deo dative of Deus to

  • donation

    Etymology The word donation comes from the Latin word donare meaning to give Mea

  • donative

    Etymology Derived from Latin donativum gift from donare to give ultimately fr

  • donor

    Etymology The word donor originates from the Latin word donarium which means gift

  • Dorian

    Etymology Greek Δωριεύς Dōrieus meaning Dorian Late Latin Mauricius Mau

  • Dorothy

    Etymology The name Dorothy is derived from the Greek name Δωροθεα Dorothea whi

  • dose

    Etymology The word dose comes from the Middle English word dose which came from Old

  • dowager

    Etymology The word dowager derives from the Anglo Norman French word douwerie which

  • dower

    Etymology Dower originates from the Old French word douaire which in turn is derive

  • dowry

    Etymology Middle English dowarie dowaire Old French douaire Late Latin Vulgar Latin

  • edition

    Etymology French édition Latin editio from edere to give out publish Meaning

  • endow

    Etymology Middle English endowen endowe from Anglo Norman French endower endouer e

  • Eudora

    Etymology Greek ευ eu meaning good or well Greek δωρον doron meani

  • fedora

    Etymology The word fedora is derived from the play Fédora written by Victorien Sardou

  • Isidore

    Etymology and Origin Latin Isidorus Greek Isídoros Ἰσίδωρος Meaning

  • mandate

    Etymology Middle English mandat Old French mandat Latin mandātum command order

  • Pandora

    Etymology The name Pandora is derived from two Greek words pan παν meaning

  • pardon

    Etymology The word pardon comes from the Old French word pardonner which itself come

  • perdition

    Etymology Late Latin perditio destruction ruin from the verb perdere to destroy

  • Polydorus

    Etymology Greek name Πολύδωρος Polydoros meaning having many gifts Mean

  • render

    Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

  • rent

    Etymology The word rent originates from the Middle English word rente which in turn

  • sacerdotal

    Etymology Latin sacerdotalis Proto Indo European sék ro holy consecrated Me

  • samizdat

    Etymology Samizdat is a Russian word coined from the prefix sam self and izdat p

  • surrender

    Etymology Old French surrendre Latin surrenderē from sub under reddere to

  • Theodore

    Etymology Greek Θεόδωρος Theodoros Meaning Gift of God Origin Th

  • Theodosia

    Etymology Greek Θεοδοσία Theodosia Meaning God given or gift of God

  • tradition

    Etymology Latin traditio traditionis a handing over delivery transmission surren

  • traitor

    Etymology Middle English traytour from Anglo Norman French traitur from Late Latin tr

  • treason

    Etymology Middle English tresoun Old French treson traïson Latin traditio delive

  • vend

    Etymology Latin vendēre to sell Meaning To offer or deliver goods or services i

  • portion

    Etymology Middle English porcioun from Old French porcioun from Medieval Latin porti

  • dowager

    Etymology The word dowager derives from the Anglo Norman French word douwerie which

  • present

    Etymology Present derives from Old French present from Latin praesens being befor

  • give

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek word etymos meaning true or re

  • benefice

    Etymology The word benefice comes from the Middle English word benefice which is der

  • gift

    Etymology The word gift comes from the Old English word gift meaning a giving or

  • rowdy

    Etymology The word rowdy derives from the 17th century English word roide which ref

  • affidavit

    Etymology Latin affidavit meaning he she has sworn third person singular perfect

  • patent

    Etymology The word patent originates from the Latin term patens meaning open or exp