jointress

[ join-tris ]

noun

, Law.

1. a woman on whom a jointure has been settled.

jointress

/ ˈdʒɔɪntrɪs /

noun

1. law a woman entitled to a jointure

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jointress¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; joint(e)r + -ess

Example Sentences

There's a line where Hamlet alludes to this process in Act 5 Scene 2: Gertrude is described as "our sometime sister, now our queen; the imperial jointress to this warlike state", which means that she possessed a legal jointure: an invention of the Tudor legal system that allowed a man to leave his estate to his widow rather than his children.

From The Guardian

Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, The imperial jointress of this warlike state, 12 Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,26 Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd27 Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along:—For all, our thanks.

From Project Gutenberg

Gertrude is described as the 'imperial jointress' of the State, and the King says that the lords consented to the marriage, but makes no separate mention of his election.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,— With an auspicious and one dropping eye, With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole,— Taken to wife; nor have we herein barr'd Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along:—or all, our thanks.

From Project Gutenberg