Category:Dole

Dole, n. Etym: [OE. deol, doel, dol, OF. doel, fr. doloir to suffer, fr. L. dolere; perh. akin to dolare to hew.]

Defn: grief; sorrow; lamentation. [Archaic] And she died. So that day there was dole in Astolat. Tennyson.

dole Dole, n. Etym: [L. dolus: cf. F. dol.] (Scots Law)

Defn: See Dolus.

dole Dole, n. Etym: [AS. dal portion; same word as d. See Deal.]

1. Distribution; dealing; apportionment. At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul. Cleveland.

2. That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty share or allowance.

3. Alms; charitable gratuity or portion. So sure the dole, so ready at their call, They stood prepared to see the manna fall. Dryden. Heaven has in store a precious dole. Keble.

4. A boundary; a landmark. Halliwell.

5. A void space left in tillage. [Prov. Eng.] Dole beer, beer bestowed as alms. [Obs.] -- Dole bread, bread bestowed as alms. [Obs.] -- Dole meadow, a meadow in which several persons have a common right or share.

dole Dole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doled; p. pr. & vb. n. Doling.]

Defn: To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to deal out scantily or grudgingly. The supercilious condescension with which even his reputed friends doled out their praises to him. De Quincey.