WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Por"tion
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [F., from L. portio, akin to pars, partis, a part. See Part, n.]
Definition : 1. That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.

2. A part considered by itself, though not actually cut off or separated from the whole. These are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him! Job xxvi. 14. Portions and parcels of the dreadful past. Tennyson.

3. A part assigned; allotment; share; fate. The lord of that servant . . . will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. Luke xii. 46. Man's portion is to die and rise again. Keble.

4. The part of an estate given to a child or heir, or descending to him by law, and distributed to him in the settlement of the estate; an inheritance. Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. Luke xv. 12.

5. A wife's fortune; a dowry. Shak.

Syn. -- Division; share; parcel; quantity; allotment; dividend. -- Portion, Part. Part is generic, having a simple reference to some whole. Portion has the additional idea of such a division as bears reference to an individual, or is allotted to some object; as, a portion of one's time; a portion of Scripture.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Por"tion
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 1. To separate or divide into portions or shares; to parcel; to distribute. And portion to his tribes the wide domain. Pope.

2. To endow with a portion or inheritance. Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. Pope.

t. [imp. & p. p. Portioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Portioning.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913