dowry English · revision 1498

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1292}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdaʊəɹi/, /ˈdaʊɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|dowarie]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|xno|dowarie]], [[m|fro|douaire|t=dower, gift]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la-med|dōtārium]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from [[la|dōtāre|t=to endow]], from [[m|la|dōs|t=marriage portion]] (genitive [[m|la|dōtis]]),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*do-|t=to give]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[m|la|dōnum|t=gift]].^(Barnhart 1995) It was originally the same word as [[dower]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A widow's share of her husband's property, the same as [[dower]] (1292 in the OED; before 1338 in Barnhart), a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1400 it meant the money or property a wife brings to her husband at marriage,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and the two words came to be distinguished, ''dower'' being the widow's share and ''dowry'' the bride's portion.^(Etymonline) It could also be a gift made by a man to or for his bride (c. 1450),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) as in Genesis: “Ask me never so much dowry and gift.”^(MWU 2024) Figuratively a dowry is a gift or talent bestowed by nature or fortune (c. 1440).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In some religious orders it is the sum required of a woman entering a convent.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1292 – a widow's dower (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a bride's marriage portion.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1440 – a natural gift or talent.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1450 – a gift by a man to his bride.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1588 – verb, to give a dowry to.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Money or property brought by a bride to her husband at [[marriage]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A gift of money or property by a man to or for his bride.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sum of money required of a woman entering certain religious orders of [[nun|alt=nuns]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A natural gift or [[talent]]; an [[endowment]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A widow's [[dower]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dowager]]

+ * [[endow]]

+ * [[dower]]

+ * [[donation]]

+ * [[dot]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}