'Assignment of dower' definitions:

Definition of 'Assignment of dower'

From: GCIDE

Dower \Dow"er\, n. [F. douaire, LL. dotarium, from L. dotare to endow, portion, fr. dos dower; akin to Gr. ? gift, and to L. dare to give. See 1st Date, and cf. Dot dowry, Dotation.]
1. That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift. [1913 Webster]
How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower! --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]
Man in his primeval dower arrayed. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
2. The property with which a woman is endowed; especially: (a) That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
His wife brought in dower Cilicia's crown. --Dryden. (b) (Law) That portion of the real estate of a man which his widow enjoys during her life, or to which a woman is entitled after the death of her husband. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
Note: Dower, in modern use, is and should be distinguished from dowry. The former is a provision for a widow on her husband's death; the latter is a bride's portion on her marriage. --Abbott. [1913 Webster]
Assignment of dower. See under Assignment. [1913 Webster]