widow
Defined in 10 dictionaries — Case Law, U.S. Code, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Anderson (1889), Abbott (1879), Bouvier (1839)
Definitions from Case Law
From 347 U.S. 334 - Thompson v. Lawson · 1954Most cited · 87 citing opinions
the essential requirement is a conjugal nexus between the claimant and the decedent subsisting at the time of the latter's death, which, for present purposes, means that she must continue to live as the deserted wife of the latter
United States Code
5 U.S.C. § 8101 — in this section
“widow” means the wife living with or dependent for support on the decedent at the time of his death, or living apart for reasonable cause or because of his desertion;
5 U.S.C. § 8341 — in this section
“widow” means the surviving wife of an employee or Member who—
(A) was married to him for at least 9 months immediately before his death; or
(B) is the mother of issue by that marriage;
5 U.S.C. § 8441 — in this section
the term “widow” means the surviving wife of an employee, Member, or annuitant, or of a former employee or Member, who—
(A) was married to him for at least 9 months immediately before his death; or
(B) is the mother of issue by that marriage;
10 U.S.C. § 1447 — in this subchapter (3 versions over time)
The term “widow” means the surviving wife of a person who, if not married to the person at the time he became eligible for retired pay—
(A) was married to him for at least one year immediately before his death; or
(B) is the mother of issue by that marriage.
28 U.S.C. § 376 — for the purposes of this section
“widow” means the surviving wife of a “judicial official”, who:
(A) has been married to him for at least one year on the day of his death; or
(B) is the mother of issue by that marriage;
30 U.S.C. § 902 — for purposes of this subchapter (7 versions over time)
The term "widow" includes the wife living with or dependent for support on the miner at the time of his death, or living apart for reasonable cause or because of his desertion, or who meets the requirements of section 416(c)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5),1 and section 416(k) of title 42, who is not married. The determination of an individual's status as the "widow" of a miner shall be made in accordance with section 416(h)(1) of title 42 as if such miner were the "insured individual" referred to therein. Such term also includes a "surviving divorced wife" as defined in section 416(d)(2) of title 42 who for the month preceding the month in which the miner died, was receiving at least one-half of her support, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, from the miner, or was receiving substantial contributions from the miner (pursuant to a written agreement) or there was in effect a court order for substantial contributions to her support from the miner at the time of his death.
38 U.S.C. § 1901 — for the purposes of this subchapter
The terms “widow” or “widower” mean a person who was the lawful spouse of the insured at the maturity of the insurance.
38 U.S.C. § 1965 — in this section
The terms “widow” or “widower” means a person who is the lawful spouse of the insured member at the time of his death.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
A woman whose husband is dead, and who has not remarried. 164 Iowa 208; 145 N. W. 467. As used in statute of distributions, this does not include a divorced woman, though it may in the law of dower. 37 Hun (N. Y.) 152; 103 N. Y. 284, 288.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
An unmarried woman whose husband is dead. In legal writings, widow is an addition given to a woman who is unmarried and whose husband is dead. A widow who has married again cannot be a widow; 20 Q. B. D. 103. A woman surviving a man to whom she has been married, but with regard to whom she had obtained a declaration of nullity of marriage, is not a widow; 52 L. J. Ch. 239. The addition of spinster is given to a woman who never was married. Lovelace, Wills 269. See Addition. See Dower; Quarantine.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A woman whose husband is dead, and who has not married again. The "king's widow" was one whose deceased husband had bcen the king's tenant in capite; she could not marry again without the royal permission.
— Grass widow. See that title.
—'Widow-bench. The share of her husband's estate which a widow is allowed besides her jointure.
— Widow's chamber. In London, the apparel of a widow and the furniture of her chamber, left by her deceased husband, is so calied, and the widow is entitled to it 2 Bl. Comm. 518.
— Widow's quarantine. In old English law. The space of forty days after the death of a man who died seised of lands, during which his widow might remain in her husband's capital mansion-house, without rent, and during which time her dower should be assigned. 2 Bl. Comm. 135.
— Widow's terce. In Scotch law. The right which a wife has after her husband's death to a third of the rents of lands in which her husband died infeft; dower. Beil.
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
A woman who has lost her husband by death. Widow's quarantine: the time after the death of a man during whicli his widow may remain in his chief mansion without paying rent, and during which her dower is to be assigned, — a period of forty days.
In English law. Widow's chamber: the apparel and furniture of her bedchamber, to which, by a custom of London, a widow is entitled.
In Scots law. Widow's terce: the right of a widow to a third part of her husband's rents.
A Dictionary of Law
William C. Anderson · 1889
A woman who has lost her husband by death.' A wife that outlives her husband.^ May refer to the person, not to her state, whether she remain a widow or marry again; as, in a statute giving a widow the right to sue for the homicide of her husband." Whenever a right by law has been attached by rea- ' Linn, 168, 275. 2 Foote V. State, 59 Md. 264, 287 (1882), Stone, J.; s. o. 4 Cr. L. M. 401. Compare 6 Alb. Law J. 70 (1873); Cooley, Const. Lim. *339-30; 1 Law J. 687; 61 id. 308. ' Be Ah Yup, 5 Saw. 155 (1878), Sawyer, Cir. J. 1 Be Camille, 6 F. E. 266 (1680). » Jeffries D. Ankeny,ll Ohio, 375 (1842); United States V. Barryman, 21 Alb. Law J. 194 (1879): E. S. §§ 21.54- 55; 2 Kent, 72. « Du Val V. Johnson, 39 Ark. 192 (1883), Eakin, J. See also Beardsley v. Bridgeport, 63 Conn. 492 (1885). 'Whitsell V. Mills, 6 Ind. 231 (1866): Webster's Diet. son of widowhood, there must be some law by which it is divested, or it will remain. ^ Widow's appraisement, law, portion, share or third, and renunciation are frequently spoken of. See those words, also Dower; Heir, 1; Husband; Qdasah- TiNE, 1; Bepkesentative, 1, Personal; Wife.
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
A widow is a woman who has lost her husband by death. One divorced from her husband cannot, upon his death, claim dower as his widow. Whitsell V. Mills, 6 Ind. 229. A widow is a wife who outlives her husband. A woman who obtains an unqualified divorce from her husband, dissolving the marriage, although for his fault, cannot, after liis death, claim a benefit under the pension laws as his widow. Claim of Burr, 11 Op. Att.-Gen. 1.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
an unmarried woman whose husband is dead. In legal writings, widow is an addition given to a woman who is unmarried and whose husband is dead. The addition of spinster is given to a woman who never was married. Lovel. on Wills, 269. See Addition. As to the rights of a widow, see Dower.