Lot (lŏt), n. [AS. hlot;
akin to hleótan to cast lots, OS. hlōt
lot, D. lot, G. loos, OHG. lōz, Icel.
hlutr, Sw. lott, Dan. lod, Goth. hlauts.
Cf. Allot, Lotto, Lottery.]
1. That which happens without human design or
forethought; chance; accident; hazard; fortune; fate.
But save my life, which lot before your foot
doth lay.
Spenser.
2. Anything (as a die, pebble, ball, or slip
of paper) used in determining a question by chance, or without man's
choice or will; as, to cast or draw lots.
The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole
disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Prov. xvi.
33.
If we draw lots, he speeds.
Shak.
3. The part, or fate, which falls to one, as
it were, by chance, or without his planning.
O visions ill foreseen! Each day's lot's
Enough to bear.
Milton.
He was but born to try
The lot of man -- to suffer and to die.
Pope.
4. A separate portion; a number of things
taken collectively; as, a lot of stationery; -- colloquially,
sometimes of people; as, a sorry lot; a bad
lot.
I, this winter, met with a very large lot of
English heads, chiefly of the reign of James I.
Walpole.
5. A distinct portion or plot of land,
usually smaller than a field; as, a building lot in a
city.
The defendants leased a house and lot in the
city of New York.
Kent.
6. A large quantity or number; a great deal;
as, to spend a lot of money; lots of people think
so. [Colloq.]
He wrote to her . . . he might be detained in London
by a lot of business.
W. Black.
7. A prize in a lottery. [Obs.]
Evelyn.
To cast in one's lot with, to share the
fortunes of. -- To cast lots, to use or
throw a die, or some other instrument, by the unforeseen turn or
position of which, an event is by previous agreement determined.
-- To draw lots, to determine an event, or make
a decision, by drawing one thing from a number whose marks are
concealed from the drawer. -- To pay scot and
lot, to pay taxes according to one's ability. See
Scot.
Lot (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Lotted (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lotting (?).] To allot; to sort; to portion.
[R.]
To lot on or upon, to
count or reckon upon; to expect with pleasure. [Colloq. U.
S.]