Lottery
Pronunciation : Lot"ter*y
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [Lot + -ery, as in brewery, bindery.]
Definition : 1. A scheme for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance; esp., a gaming scheme in which one or more tickets bearing particular numbers draw prizes, and the rest of tickets are blanks. Fig. : An affair of chance.
Note: The laws of the United States and of most of the States make lotteries illegal.
2. Allotment; thing allotted. [Obs.] Shak.
pl. Lotteries.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913