(Dotarium, Doarium, or Dos), a portion of lands or tenements which a widow enjoys for term of life from her husband, in case she survives him; and which, at her death, descends to their children. But she must have been the wife of the party at the time of his decease; or not divorced *à vinculo matrimonii*: nor, if she has eloped from her husband, and lives with an adulterer, shall she be entitled to dower, unless her husband be voluntarily reconciled to her. The widows of traitors are also barred of their dower by 5 and 6 Edw. VI. cap. 11., but not the widows of felons. An alien cannot be endowed, unless she be queen consort. And if a woman levies a fine with her husband, or if a common recovery he had with the husband and wife of the husband's lands, she is barred of her dower.—A widow, clear of these impediments, is by law entitled to be endowed of all lands and tenements, of which her husband was seised in fee-simple or fee-tail at any time during the coverture; and of which any issue the might have had might by possibility have been heir. See **Jointure**.