Category:Portion

Por"tion, n. Etym: [f., from l. portio, akin to pars, partis, a part. See part, n.]

1. That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a Separated part of anything.

2. A part considered by itself, though not actually cut off or Separated from the whole. These are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of Him! Job xxvi. 14. Portions and parcels of the dreadful past. Tennyson.

3. A part assigned; allotment; share; fate. The lord of that servant. . . will appoint him his portion with the Unbelievers. Luke xii. 46. Man's portion is to die and rise again. Keble.

4. The part of an estate given to a child or heir, or descending to Him by law, and distributed to him in the settlement of the estate; An inheritance. Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. Luke xv. 12.

5. A wife's fortune; a dowry. Shak.

Syn. -- division; share; parcel; quantity; allotment; dividend. -- portion, part. Part is generic, having a simple reference to some Whole. Portion has the additional idea of such a division as bears Reference to an individual, or is allotted to some object; as, a Portion of one's time; a portion of scripture.

Portion Por"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Portioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Portioning.]

1. To separate or divide into portions or shares; to parcel; to Distribute. And portion to his tribes the wide domain. Pope.

2. To endow with a portion or inheritance. Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. Pope.