dōs, ōtis (gen. plur. dotium, Dig. 23, 3, 9, § 1 al.; dotum, Val. Max. 4, 4, 11; Tert. Cult. Fem. 2, 9), f. [1. do, like the Sicilian δωτίνη, from διδόναι, Varr. L. L. 5, § 175 Müll.], a marriage portion, dowry (for syn. cf.: donum, largitio, munus, donatio, etc.).
I Prop., Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 209; id. Ep. 2, 1, 11 et saep.; Ter. And. 950; id. Heaut. 937 sq. al.; Cic. Caecin. 25 fin. ; id. Fl. 35; id. Att. 14, 13, 5; Caes. B. G. 6, 19, 1; Hor. S. 1, 2, 131; id. Ep. 1, 6, 36 et saep.—Cf. on the legal regulations respecting the dos and the t. t. used in them (dotis datio, dictio, promissio, etc.), Cod. Just. 5, 12; Dig. 23, 3 tit.: De jure dotium, Just. Inst. 2, 7, 3; Cod. Just. 5, 15: De dote cauta, non numerata; id. 5, 11: De dotis promissione et nuda pollicitatione; Dig. 33, 4 tit.: De dote praelegata; ib. 37, 7: De dotis collatione; cf. Rein's Privatr. p. 194 sq. —
II Transf., a gift , endowment , talent , property , quality (freq. since the Aug. per.; cf.: indoles, ingenium, facultates, virtutes): (juris civilis) artem verborum dote locupletasti, Cic. de Or. 1, 55: vinearum (pedamenta, vimina), Col. 4, 30, 1; cf. praediorum, Dig. 33, 7, 2; ib. 20, § 3: magnae uvarum, Col. 3, 2, 17; cf.: omnis unionum, Plin. 9, 35, 56, § 112: mulsi, id. 22, 24, 50, § 108: aquatilium, id. 32, 11, 53, § 142: formae, Ov. M. 9, 717; cf. oris, id. ib. 5, 562: corporis, id. ib. 583: ingenii (opp. bona corporis), id. A. A. 2, 112; so Curt. 3, 6, 20: corporis, Sen. Vit. Beat. 8, 3: corporis animique dotes, Suet. Tit. 3; cf.: naturae fortunaeque, Plin. Ep. 3, 3, 4: omnes belli et togae, Vell. 1, 12, 3 et saep.: silvarum dotes, the delights , i. e. the chase, Grat. Cyn. 252: est quoque carminibus meritas celebrare puellas Dos mea, my gift , Ov. Am. 1, 10, 60: infelix perii dotibus ipse meis, id. Pont. 2, 7, 48: dos erat ille (sc. Phaon) loci, the ornament , id. H. 15, 146: teneritas in dote (est), is highly prized , Plin. 19, 8, 41, § 141.