lot

nounpiece of property
nounquantity, often large
nounportion, share
nounfate, destiny

Synonyms for lot

noun piece of property

Antonyms for lot

Word Origin & History

Old English hlot "object (anything from dice to straw, but often a chip of wood with a name inscribed on it) used to determine someone's share," also "what falls to a person by lot," from Proto-Germanic *khlutom (cf. Old Norse hlutr "lot, share," Old Frisian hlot "lot," Old Saxon hlot, Middle Dutch, Dutch lot, Old High German hluz "share of land," German Los; Old English hleotan "to cast lots, to foretell"), of unknown origin. The object was placed with others in a receptacle, which was shaken, the winner being the one that fell out first. Hence, to cast lots. In some cases the lots were drawn by hand. The word was adopted from Germanic into the Romanic languages (cf. lottery, lotto). Meaning "choice resulting from the casting of lots" first attested c.1200.

Sense of "plot of land" is first recorded 1630s (distribution of the best property in new settlements often determined by casting lots), that of "group, collection" is 1725, from notion of auction lots. The generalized sense of "great many" is first attested in 1812. To cast (one's) lot with another is to agree to share winnings.

Example Sentences for lot

Not a blamed thing but a lot of stubs in a check-book, and a little fat.

It does not often fall to the lot of a boy to perform a deed so heroic.

He was not unfamiliar with the lot of one who dines with the learned Von Herzlich.

In the end, then, you'll be out a lot of money even if you win.

I see; there must a lot of them have died here, but their souls didn't go far, did they now?

And that's why I'm outlastin' a lot of the boys and still gettin' my fun out of the game.

Two millions isn't so much here, you know, and she must have spent a lot of hers.

As the next toast fell to his lot, he would ask them to charge their glasses.

And now I will try if any repose will fall to my lot for the remainder of this night.

The influence of Westhampton is Radical, and fills the Council with a lot of outsiders.

lot

Synonyms for lot

Antonyms for lot

allotment

allow

allowance

allowances

allowed

lot

Synonyms for lot

Antonyms for lot

More words related to lot

admeasure

allotment

allow

allowance

allowances

allowed