lot

Etymology

From Middle English lot, from Old English hlot (“portion, choice, decision”), from Proto-Germanic *hlutą. Cognate with North Frisian lod, Saterland Frisian Lot, West Frisian lot, Dutch lot, French lot, German Low German Lott, Middle High German luz. Related also to German Los.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: lŏt, IPA^(key): /lɒt/
• (General American) enPR: lät, IPA^(key): /lɑt/
• (Boston), (Western Pennsylvania) IPA^(key): /lɔt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒt

Noun

lot (plural lots)

Lot, noun definition 5

1. A large quantity or number; a great deal.

   to spend a lot of money;  lots of people think so

   • W. Black

     He wrote to her […] he might be detained in London by a lot of business.

   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 3, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.

2. A separate portion; a number of things taken collectively.

   a lot of stationery

3. One or more items auctioned or sold as a unit, separate from other items.
4. (informal) A number of people taken collectively.

   a sorry lot; a bad lot

5. A distinct portion or plot of land, usually smaller than a field.

   a building lot in a city

   • Kent

     The defendants leased a house and lot in the city of New York.

6. That which happens without human design or forethought; chance; accident; hazard; fortune; fate.
   • Spenser

     But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay.

7. Anything (as a die, pebble, ball, or slip of paper) used in determining a question by chance, or without human choice or will.

   to cast lots;  to draw lots

   • Bible, Proverbs xvi. 33

     The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

   • Shakespeare

     If we draw lots, he speeds.

8. The part, or fate, that falls to one, as it were, by chance, or without his planning.
   • Milton

     O visions ill foreseen! Each day's lot's / Enough to bear.

   • Alexander Pope

     He was but born to try / The lot of man — to suffer and to die.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter II, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, London: A[ndrew] Millar, OCLC 928184292, book III:

     […] as Jones alone was discovered, the poor lad bore not only the whole smart, but the whole blame; both which fell again to his lot on the following occasion.

   • C-3PO

     "We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life." in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

9. A prize in a lottery.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Evelyn to this entry?)

10. Allotment; lottery.
    • 1990: Donald Kagan, Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy, chapter 2: “Politician”, page 40 (Guild Publishing; CN 2239)

      The Greeks expected their leaders to show physical courage, whether in the athletic arena or in battle, as well as piety, generosity, and nobility. Cimon had risen to power chiefly because of his military prowess, and any rival must be able to show at least honorable service and military competence. By this time, moreover, the generals were coming to be the most important political figures in Athens. Archons served only for one year and, since 487/6, they were chosen by lot. Generals, on the other hand, were chosen by direct election and could be reelected without limit.

11. (definite, the lot) All members of a set; everything.

    The table was loaded with food, but by evening there was nothing but crumbs; we had eaten the lot.

    If I were in charge, I'd fire the lot of them.

12. An old unit of weight used in many European countries from the Middle Ages, often defined as 1/30 or 1/32 of a (local) pound.

Verb

lot (third-person singular simple present lots, present participle lotting, simple past and past participle lotted)

1. (transitive, dated) To allot; to sort; to apportion.
2. (US, informal, dated) To count or reckon (on or upon).

Anagrams

• LTO, OTL, tol, tol'

Etymology

From Proto-Albanian *lā(i)ta, and adjective in *-to-, from Proto-Indo-European *lēi 'to pour'^[1].

Noun

lot m (indefinite plural lotë, definite singular loti, definite plural lotët)

1. tear (from the eye)

   Gjak, lot dhe djersë — Blood, tears and sweat

References

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔt

Noun

lot n (plural loten, diminutive lotje n)

1. destiny, fate
2. lottery ticket

Anagrams

• tol

Etymology

From Frankish *lot, from Proto-Germanic *hlutą.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lo/

• Audio

  (file)

• Audio (Paris)

  (file)

Noun

lot m (plural lots)

1. share (of inheritance)
2. plot (of land)
3. batch (of goods for sale)
4. lot (at auction)
5. prize (in lottery)
6. lot, fate
7. (slang) babe

Further reading

• “lot” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Noun

lot ?

1. jump

Etymology

From Frankish *lot, from Proto-Germanic *hlutą.

Noun

lot m (plural lots)

1. (Guernsey) lot (at auction)

Verb

lot

1. simple past of la (Etymology 1)
2. simple past of late

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lɔt/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

lot m inan

1. flight

Noun

lot m (gen lota, pl lotan)

1. sore, wound
2. sting

Noun

lot

1. A unit of weight: 1 lot = 3 mısqal = 12.797 g (archaic)

Noun

lot c (plural lotten)

1. fate, destiny