From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
jointure
n 1: (law) an estate secured to a prospective wife as a marriage
settlement in lieu of a dower [syn: legal jointure]
2: the act of making or becoming a single unit; "the union of
opposing factions"; "he looked forward to the unification
of his family for the holidays" [syn: union,
unification, uniting, conjugation] [ant: disunion]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Jointure \Join"ture\, n. [F. jointure a joint, orig., a joining,
L. junctura, fr. jungere to join. See Join, and cf.
Juncture.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A joining; a joint. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
2. (Law) An estate settled on a wife, which she is to enjoy
after husband's decease, for her own life at least, in
satisfaction of dower.
[1913 Webster]
The jointure that your king must make,
Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Jointure \Join"ture\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jointured; p. pr. &
vb. n. Jointuring.]
To settle a jointure upon.
[1913 Webster]