Lŏt1, n.
n. [A-S. hlot, hlyte, hlyt, hlét, lot, O. Sax. hlôt, Goth. hlauts, Icel. hlutr, Sw. lott, Dan. lod, D. lot, O. H. Ger. hlōz, lōz, N. H. Ger. loos, from A-S. hleotan, O. Sax. hliotan, O. H. Ger. hleozan, to draw lots; hence Icel. hlaut, the blood of victims, and hluti, part, portion.]
Sense 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.
Sense 2. A contrivance to determine a question by chance, or without the action of 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.
Sense 3. The part, or fate, which falls to one by chance, or without his planning.
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.
Sense 4. The separate portion belonging to one person; and hence, a distinct parcel; a separate part; as, a lot of goods.
In this winter met with a large lot of English heads, chiefly of the reign of James I. H. Walpole.
Sense 5. A quantity or large number; as, lots of people; lots of passengers. [Colloq. U. S.] Bartlett.
Sense 6. Especially, that portion of ground which is allotted or assigned to any one; and hence, any distinct portion of land. [U. S.]
The defendants leased a house and lot in the city of New York. Kent.
Sense 7. A prize in a lottery.
In the lottery set up after the Venetian manner, . . . Sir R. Haddock, one of the commissioners of the navy, had the largest lot. Evelyn.
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 by drawing one thing from a number whose marks are concealed from the drawer, and thus determining an event.—To pay scot and lot, to pay taxes according to ability. See SCOT.