dower的意思|示意

English Word Dower: Usage Explanation

The English word dower is a noun for an acceptance or gift given by a man to his future wife in anticipation of marriage. It usually stands for a woman's share from the estate of her husband in the event of his death. In certain countries, the dower is a legal document stating the sum of money or possessions the groom agrees to give to the bride.

The dower can also refer to a religious donation made to the church during a wedding ceremony. It is normally a sum of money that could be more than the bride and groom’s wedding gift. In some English-speaking countries, the term dower is sometimes used for a dowry.

In common usages, the word dower has a few different meanings. For example, it can indicate something that is delivered or given as a gift. It can also stand for the amount of money a man forgives to a woman to cover her expenses when her husband dies.

In terms of legal terms, the dower stands for the share of the husband's estate a widow is legally entitled to under modern inheritance rules. This means that the spouse and children of the deceased husband are guaranteed their proportionate share of their father's estate after his death. This is why modern dower laws exist to protect the rights of a widow in the case of a husband's death.

In conclusion, the word dower is a term used to differentiate between gifts and legal rights. It is a synonym for a dowry when used to describe amounts of money or possessions given to a bride from her future husband. In some rare cases, it can also be used to denote a religious donation made to the church during a wedding ceremony. In the case of inheritance, the dower is an amount of money a widow is legally guaranteed from her deceased husband's estate.