lot

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English lot, from Old English hlot (“portion, choice, decision”), from Proto-Germanic *hlutą. Cognate with North Frisian lod, Saterland Frisian Lot, West Frisian lot, Dutch lot, French lot, German Low German Lott, Middle High German luz. Related also to German Los.

PronunciationEdit

(Received Pronunciation) enPR: lŏt, IPA^(key): /lɒt/
(General American) enPR: lät, IPA^(key): /lɑt/
(Boston), (Western Pennsylvania) IPA^(key): /lɔt/
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Rhymes: -ɒt

NounEdit

lot (plural lots)

Lot, noun definition 5

A large quantity or number; a great deal.
Synonyms: load, mass, pile

to spend a lot of money

lots of people think so
- 1877, William Black, Green Pastures and Piccadilly, volume 2, page 4:
  He wrote to her […] he might be detained in London by a lot of business.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 3, in Mr. Pratt's Patients, page 52:
  I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out.
A separate portion; a number of things taken collectively.
Synonyms: batch, collection, group, set

a lot of stationery
One or more items auctioned or sold as a unit, separate from other items.
(informal) A number of people taken collectively.
Synonyms: crowd, gang, group

a sorry lot

a bad lot
A distinct portion or plot of land, usually smaller than a field.
Synonyms: allotment, parcel, plot

a building lot in a city
- 1820, James Kent, ‎William Johnson, editor, Reports of cases adjudged in the Court of Chancery of New-York‎^[1], volume 5:
  The defendants leased a house and lot, in the City of New-York
That which happens without human design or forethought.
Synonyms: chance, accident, destiny, fate, fortune
- (Can we date this quote by William Spenser and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)
  But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay.
Anything (as a die, pebble, ball, or slip of paper) used in determining a question by chance, or without human choice or will.
to cast lots

to draw lots
- (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Proverbs xvi. 33
  The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
- c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iii]:
  If we draw lots, he speeds.
The part, or fate, that falls to one, as it were, by chance, or without his planning.
- (Can we date this quote by John Milton and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)
  O visions ill foreseen! Each day's lot's / Enough to bear.
- (Can we date this quote by Alexander Pope and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)
  He was but born to try / The lot of man — to suffer and to die.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter II, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In Six Volumes, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: Printed by A[ndrew] Millar, […], OCLC 928184292, book III:
  […] as Jones alone was discovered, the poor lad bore not only the whole smart, but the whole blame; both which fell again to his lot on the following occasion.
- (Can we date this quote?) in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
  We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life.
A prize in a lottery.
Synonym: prize

(Can we find and add a quotation of Evelyn to this entry?)
Allotment; lottery.
- 1990: Donald Kagan, Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy, chapter 2: “Politician”, page 40 (Guild Publishing; CN 2239)
  Archons served only for one year and, since 487/6, they were chosen by lot. Generals, on the other hand, were chosen by direct election and could be reelected without limit.
(definite, the lot) All members of a set; everything.
The table was loaded with food, but by evening there was nothing but crumbs; we had eaten the lot.

If I were in charge, I'd fire the lot of them.
(historical) An old unit of weight used in many European countries from the Middle Ages, often defined as 1/30 or 1/32 of a (local) pound.