allot
UK /əˈlɒt/ · US /əˈlɑt/ verb
Forms allots allotting allotted
- verb (transitive) To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot.
- verb (transitive) To assign or designate as a task or for a purpose. “Each candidate was allotted five minutes to make a presentation in front of the judges.”
- verb (New England) to intend; reckon
Synonyms
earmark assign portion accord grant distribute administer mete out deal parcel out lot dispense shell out deal out dish out dole out
Etymology
From Middle English allotten, from Old French aloter (Modern French allotir). à + lot. By surface analysis, al- + lot.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To distribute by lot.
- verb To distribute, or parcel out in parts or portions; or to distribute to each individual concerned; to assign as a share or lot; to set apart as one's share; to bestow on; to grant; to appoint; as, let every man be contented with that which Providence allots him. Ten years I will allot to the attainment of knowledge. Johnson.
Etymology [OF. aloter, F. allotir; a (L. ad) + lot lot. See Lot.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “allot”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details