† ˈdoweress Obs.
Also 6 dowares(se, 9 dowress.
[f. dower, with fem. suffix -ess. Cf. jointress.]
A widow holding a dower; dowager.
| 1519 in Hall Chron. (1809) 601 The..Kyng of Englande..with his bedfelowe the Quene, and his Sister the dowares of France. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 192 Before the abolition of military tenures, the dowress was attendant on the heir..for the third part of the services. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 287 Some misunderstanding has subsisted between the noble doweress and the present proprietors. |