dowry

[ dou-ree ]

noun

, plural dow·ries.

1. Also the money, goods, or estate that a wife brings to her husband at marriage.
2. Archaic. a widow's dower.
3. a natural gift, endowment, talent, etc.

dowry

/ ˈdaʊərɪ /

noun

1. the money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
2. (esp formerly) a gift made by a man to his bride or her parents
3. Christianity a sum of money required on entering certain orders of nuns
4. a natural talent or gift
5. obsolete.
   a widow's dower

dowry

1. Money, property, or material goods that a bride's family gives to the bridegroom or his family at the time of the wedding. In many cultures , the dowry not only helps to cement the relationship between the bride's and groom's families but also serves to reinforce traditional family roles and gender roles .

Word History and Origins

Origin of dowry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dowerie, from Anglo-French douarie, from Medieval Latin dōtārium. See dot ², -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of dowry¹

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

Example Sentences

In 2016, when she got married herself, what she wanted for her dowry was an AC and a refrigerator.

From MIT Technology Review

After his father’s health deteriorated, Faruqui assumed still greater responsibilities—his three sisters had to be married, and weddings meant dowries.

From Time

I found that these women often give consent to these marriages to escape poverty and the burden of dowry.

From No Straight News

Assam and West Bengal, meanwhile, are known as “source states” – localities struggling with poverty, the aftermath of natural disasters and the burden of the dowry system.

From No Straight News

Each successful hit contributes to a virtual “anti dowry fund.”

From The Daily Beast

Once the dowry has been cashed, there is no financial reason to keep the wife around.

From The Daily Beast

The woman is a commodity to make money—the dowry becomes a business transaction.

From The Daily Beast

The full document is quoted in a new book by Avi Raz, The Bride and the Dowry, complete with the typing errors I then made.

From The Daily Beast

The groom has to give the bride a dowry to make the contract valid, and that dowry is for her and her alone to use as she wishes.

From The Daily Beast

He tried to marry his daughter without a dowry to some man who was intoxicated with nobility.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1838 he married the daughter of Moreau (de l'Oise), who brought him a very large dowry.

From Project Gutenberg

Give them a suitable dowry, take care of them, and speak to them always like a friend.

From Project Gutenberg

This money she used as a dowry and it aided in consummating her marriage with Cerizet.

From Project Gutenberg

Her family—that of the bourgeoisie of Nancy—fooled Castanier about the size of her dowry and her "expectations."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ancestry
• culture
• custom
• legacy
• right
• tradition