Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
DOWRY — (Heb. נְדֻנְיָה), the property a wife brings to her husband at marriage; the Yiddish equivalent, nadn, is from the same root. The custom of nedunyah became clearly defined and institutionalized only in the talmudic period. In biblical times,… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
dowry — index endowment Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 dowry n. Money and property brought … Law dictionary
dowry — dow‧ry [ˈdaʊəri ǁ ˈdaʊri] noun dowries PLURALFORM [countable] 1. FINANCE JOURNALISM money which is given by one company to a company it is trying to buy. The dowry is meant to encourage the second company to agree to the arrangement: • The… … Financial and business terms
Dowry — Dow ry, n.; pl. {Dowries}. [Contr. from dowery; cf. LL. dotarium. See {Dower}.] 1. A gift; endowment. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. The money, goods, or estate, which a woman brings to her husband in marriage; a bride s portion on her… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
dowry — early 14c., from Anglo Fr. dowarie, O.Fr. doaire (late 13c.) dower, dowry, gift, from M.L. dotarium, from L. dotare to endow, portion, from dos (gen. dotis) marriage portion, from PIE *do ti (Cf. Skt. dadati, Gk. didonai, O.C.S. dati, Lith … Etymology dictionary
dowry — ► NOUN (pl. dowries) ▪ property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage. ORIGIN Old French dowarie, from Latin dotare endow (see DOWER(Cf. ↑dower)) … English terms dictionary
dowry — [dou′rē] n. pl. dowries [ME douerie < Anglo Fr & OFr douarie: see DOWER] 1. the property that a woman brings to her husband at marriage: now chiefly historical or metaphorical 2. a natural talent, gift, or endowment 3. Archaic a widow s dower… … English World dictionary
Dowry — A dowry (also known as trousseau or tocher or, in Latin, dos) is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage.[1][2] It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride s parents, and dower, which is property… … Wikipedia
dowry — /dow ree/, n., pl. dowries. 1. Also, dower. 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. Also, dowery. [1250 1300; ME dowerie < AF douarie < ML… … Universalium
dowry — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ large, substantial ▪ small VERB + DOWRY ▪ give sb, pay (sb) ▪ have … Collocations dictionary
Dowry — This unusual name is a developed form of the Old French douarie and does refer to money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage. The surname is found in the spellings of Dowry, Dowrey and the shortened forms of Dover, Dower,… … Surnames reference
