Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DOW'ER, n. [W. dawd, a gift; dawni, to endow; Fr. douaire, from douer, to endow. Supposed to be from L. dos, dotis, dotatio; Gr. δως, a gift, from διδωμι, to give, W. dodi, L. do. It is written in the Latin of the middle ages, dodarium, dotarium, douarium. Spelman. In Ir. diobhadth is dower.]

1. That portion of the lands or tenements of a man which his widow enjoys during her life, after the death of her husband. – Blackstone. [This is the usual present signification of the word.]
2. The property which a woman brings to her husband in marriage. – Dryden.
3. The gift of a husband for a wife. Ask me never so much dowry and gift. – Gen. xxxiv.
4. Endowment; gift. How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower. Davies.