dower

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdaʊə/

noun

  • a widow’s share for life of her husband’s estate: [as modifier]: a dower house
  • archaic a dowry.

verb

[with object] archaic
  • give a dowry to: he was so short of money that he could not even dower his sister

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French douaire, from medieval Latin dotarium, from Latin dotare 'endow', from dos, dot- 'dowry'; related to dare 'give'