Word of the Day 3-14-12

Dowager:

1. An elderly woman of stately dignity, especially one of elevated social position.

2. A woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, especially the widow of a king, duke, etc.

adjective:

1. Noting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a dowager:

Origin: Dowager  stems from the Latin word dotare  meaning "to endow." In the middle French, it came to mean "pertaining to a dower," or the gift/payment that a wife's family gives her husband when they are married.