dot

dowry

noun DOT Rare

Usage Note

Dot refers to the property or money a bride's family traditionally gave to the groom at marriage. The practice was legally regulated in France and largely fell out of common use in the 20th century, but the word still appears in historical and literary contexts. Unusually for French, the final 't' is pronounced.

Examples

"La dot était une tradition ancienne."

Natural Translation

The dowry was an old tradition.

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