noun
- plural of dowry; money, goods, or property that a woman’s family gives to her husband when she marries him
Usage: traditional practice; varies by culture
Examples
- In some cultures, families save for years to provide adequate dowries for their daughters.
- The practice of giving dowries has declined in many modern societies.
- Historical records show that dowries often included land, livestock, and household goods.
- Some countries have laws prohibiting the demanding of dowries.
- The size of dowries traditionally reflected the family’s social status.
- Many families went into debt to provide substantial dowries for multiple daughters.