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.
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.
