Por"tion (?), n. [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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
