n.
- a part or share.
▸an amount of food suitable for or served to one person.
▸Law the part or share of an estate given or descending by law to an heir.
- archaic a person's destiny or lot.
-
(also marriage portion)
archaic a dowry.
v.
- divide into portions and share out.
- archaic give a dowry to.
Derivative
- portionless adj. (archaic).
Etymology
ME: from OFr. porcion, from L. portio(n-), from the phr. pro portione ‘in proportion’.