portion

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word portion. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word portion, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say portion in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word portion you have here. The definition of the word portion will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofportion, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Portion

English

Etymology

From Middle English porcioun, borrowed from Old French porcion, from Latin portio (a share, part, portion, relation, proportion), akin to pars (part); see part. Compare proportion.

Pronunciation

Noun

portion (plural portions)

  1. An allocated amount.
  2. That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
  3. One's fate; lot.
  4. The part of an estate given or falling to a child or heir; an inheritance.
  5. A wife's fortune; a dowry.
    • 1613–1614 (date written), John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speare, The Two Noble Kinsmen: , London: Tho Cotes, for Iohn Waterson;  , published 1634, →OCLC, Act V, scene iv, page 85:
      Commend me to her, and to piece her portion / Tender her this.
    • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. , volume I, London: Benj Motte, , →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput):
      I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred pounds for a portion.

Usage notes

Relatively formal, compared to the more informal part or more concrete and casual piece. For example, “part of the money” (both informal) but “portion of the proceeds” (both formal).

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Verb

portion (third-person singular simple present portions, present participle portioning, simple past and past participle portioned)

  1. (transitive) To divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.
  2. (transitive) To endow with a portion or inheritance.
    • 1733, Alexander Pope, Epistle to Bathurst:
      Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest.

Usage notes

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin portionem (accusative singular of portio).

Pronunciation

Noun

portion f (plural portions)

  1. portion

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Turkish: porsiyon

Further reading

Anagrams

Interlingua

Noun

portion (plural portiones)

  1. portion

Swedish

Pronunciation

Noun

portion c

  1. serving, an helping of food

Declension

Declension of portion 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative portion portionen portioner portionerna
Genitive portions portionens portioners portionernas

Related terms

Yola

Etymology

From Middle English porcioun, from Old French porcion, from Latin portio.

Noun

portion

  1. part
    • 1867, “THE BRIDE'S PORTION”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 102:
      A portion ich gae her, was (it's now ich have ee-tolth)
      The portion I gave her was (it's now I have told)
  2. dowry
    • 2005, Brief List of Familiar Things:
      A portion ich gae her was keow an dwanty shilleen.
      The dowry I gave her was a cow and twenty shillings.

References