dole

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   chiefly British and informal: money paid by the government to people who are unemployed

   After the factory closed, hundreds of workers had to rely on the dole.

2. 2
   noun

   a portion of money, food, or clothing distributed as charity

   The winter dole provided each family with bread, coal, and a little money.

3. 3
   verb

   to distribute something in small or sparing portions, usually with out

   The clerk began to dole out the remaining tickets one at a time.

4. 4
   verb

   Northern English dialect and archaic: to lament or grieve, especially over a loss

   The old sailor told his friend not to dole over his approaching death.

Two histories converged in this spelling. The portion, charity, state-benefit, and distribution senses descend from Old English dāl ("share, portion"), related to deal. The grief noun and northern verb meaning "lament" descend through Middle English dole from Anglo-French doel or dol, ultimately related to Latin dolor ("pain, grief") and dolere ("to grieve").

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