See the full definition for dowry in the English Language Learners Dictionary, Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dowry, Nglish: Translation of dowry for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of dowry for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dowry. 2. Money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage. In biblical times, mohar (מֹהַר), whereby the groom bought his wife from her father (Gen. 24:53; Ex. art. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In medieval western Europe and later, dowries were common practice among most, if not all, social and economic groups. Dowry is a kind of gift given by the bride’s family to the bridegroom’s family along with the giving away of the bride. Dowry, the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband or his family in marriage. Marriage has traditionally been a state issue in the United States, not under the federal legal system. Dowry negotiations are an essential prerequisite to marital bond. This function assumes special importance in societies where marriages have regularly been made between very young people; the dowry enables the new couple to establish a household, which they otherwise would not have been able to do. Dowry. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. These exchanges are not purely economic but instead serve to ratify the marriage and consolidate friendship between the two families. A natural endowment or gift; a talent. The dower is the property that is settled upon for the bride at the time of marriage so that she is taken car… Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. By John Bouvier. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. One of the basic functions of a dowry has been to serve as a form of protection for the wife against the very real possibility of ill treatment by her husband and his family. In some societies a dowry provides the wife with a means of support in case of her husband’s death. This frequently translates into physical, mental or sexual violence against the bride. …connected to the institution of dowry, since the family’s obligation to provide a suitable dowry to the bride’s new family represents a major financial liability. In South Asia, for instance, parents of the groom have sometimes demanded compensation for their son’s higher education and future earnings, which the bride would ostensibly share. (less common) Payment by the groom or his family to the bride 's family: bride price. Explore Dowry profile at Times of India for photos, videos and latest news of Dowry. … A dowry, or dos as the Romans called it, was a part of most marriages. Dowry in marriages is a curse for Indian society that has been haunting for a long time. money or other assets in addition to the selling price that a company offers to another company it wants to buy: The buyers added a dowry of $500 million to get the firm's board to agree to the takeover. Dowry News: Latest and Breaking News on Dowry. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. The dowry price paid at the time of marriage may be significant, but the greed of husbands and in-laws can grow after marriage. Dowries are not just about money, household items such as linens and furniture, and even animals, may be included too. Accessed 6 Apr. In course of time the practice filtered down from the rich Rajputs and other twice-born castes to other sections. Hence, social awareness is the necessity to ensure robust annihilation of dowry system from the nation. This is a social curse, which has gone unchecked, though time and … A dowry is meant to be a type of financial security in widowhoodor against a neglectful husband, and can also ensure economic independence for children. Dowry, the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband or his family in marriage. ries 1. The terms and conditions of dowry often match those of a regular business or a financial agreement. ries 1. The provision of Dowry Death was added in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 in 1986 vide Criminal Law (Amendment) Act … 2317; Dig. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dowry.' Want to thank TFD for its existence? The Roman version of this very common institution probably began out of a desire to get the bride’s family to contribute a share of the costs involved in setting up a new household. Dowry has been illegal in Bangladesh since the passing of the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1980. Dowry definition: A woman's dowry is the money and goods which, in some cultures , her family gives to the... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Also dower. Most common in cultures that are strongly patrilineal and that expect women to reside with or near their husband’s family (patrilocality), dowries have a long history in Europe, South Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world. 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3, Middle English dowarie, from Anglo-French, alteration of dower, douaire — more at dower. A dowry is a transfer of parental property, gifts, or money at the marriage of a daughter.Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower.While bride price or bride service is a payment by the groom or his family to the bride’s parents, dowry is the wealth transferred from the bride’s family to the groom or his family, ostensibly for the bride. Recognition of dowry rights means that the contract holds in court, and the full power of the law will protect a woman'… A sum of money required of a postulant at a convent. Find 64 ways to say DOWRY, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Other terms associated with the exchange of wealth during a marriage are \"bride price\" and \"dower.\" A bride price refers to money that a groom would pay to his bride's father in exchange for her hand in marriage. In eastern countries the bridegroom was required to pay the father of his betrothed a stipulated portion, in money or other valuables, portion, in money or other valuables, proportioned to the rank and station of the family to which she belonged; this was the dowry. ( Public Domain ) a widow's dower. ries. Code of Lo. Published 1856. 31; Civ. Traditionally, women were expected to treat their husbands as if they were gods, and obedience of wives to husbands has remained a strong social norm.…, The 1961 law forbidding dowries further undermined traditional Hinduism. Dowry Death – Section- 304-B IPC. Dowry is payment made in cash or kind to a bride’s in-laws at the time of her marriage. In many societies, dowries have served as a reciprocal gesture by the bride’s kin to the groom’s kin for the expenses incurred by the latter in payment of bridewealth. (plural dowries) money and/or property that, in some societies, a wife or her family must pay to her husband when they get married His family hoped that his bride would bring a … Dowry death means death of a Married woman in relation to dowry by her husband or relatives of his husband including his family members. quotations ▼ A reproduction of the painting ‘Choosing a Dowry’ (1910) by Nikolay Bekryashev, published in the magazine Niva in 1911. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? A dowry is a gift of substantial monetary value given from either the bride or groom to their future spouse upon marriage. 23, 3, 76; Code, 5, 12, 20. 4. Roman writers were quick to recognize that while they need not apply in every case there were other possible benefits. Omissions? 3. The practice of Dowry is yet another symbol of the devalued status of women in parts of the world. DOWRY. Although the dowry has long been a tremendous burden to the parents of daughters, the strength of social custom is such that the law cannot be fully enforced.…, …taken care of by the dowry, which, given to the husband, usually by her family, at the time of the marriage, was to be hers after the husband’s death. Dowry system has long been exploiting the weak and hampering the right to peaceful existence of a woman. Dowry has not been included in the civil law in all of states except Louisiana, which is heavily influenced by the Napoleonic Code and Roman Civil Law. 2. a natural gift, endowment, talent, etc. The dowry system in India refers to the durable goods, cash, and real or movable property that the bride's family gives to the groom, his parents and his relatives as a condition of the marriage. 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