jointure
/ˈdʒɔɪntʃər/
noun
- A legal agreement that provides a widow with an income or property from her deceased husband's estate for the rest of her life.
- The marriage contract included a jointure that guaranteed the wife a comfortable income if she outlived her husband.
- Many historical novels mention jointures as part of aristocratic marriage settlements.
- Under the jointure, she was entitled to the use of the family home and a yearly allowance.
Synonyms