dow·a·ger (dou??-j?r)n.1. A widow who holds a title or property derived from her deceased husband.2. An elderly woman of high social station.[Obsolete French douagière, from douage, dower, from douer, to endow, from Latin d?t?re, from d?s, d?t-, dowry; see d?- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.dowager (?da??d??) n1. a. a widow possessing property or a title obtained from her husbandb. (as modifier): the dowager duchess. 2. a wealthy or dignified elderly woman[C16: from Old French douagiere, from douage dower]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014dow?a?ger (?da? ? d??r) n. 1. a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband. 2. an elderly woman of stately dignity. adj. 3. pertaining to or characteristic of a dowager. [1520?30;