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Dole

 - 7 dictionary results

dole

1  [dohl] noun, verb, doled, dol⋅ing.
Use Dole in a Sentence
–noun
1. a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., esp. as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance.
2. a dealing out or distributing, esp. in charity.
3. a form of payment to the unemployed instituted by the British government in 1918.
4. any similar payment by a government to an unemployed person.
5. Archaic. one's fate or destiny.
–verb (used with object)
6. to distribute in charity.
7. to give out sparingly or in small quantities (usually fol. by out): The last of the water was doled out to the thirsty crew.
—Idiom
8. on the dole, receiving payment from the government, as relief: They couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME dol, OE gedāl sharing; cf. deal 1

Synonyms:
1. share, pittance. 7. ration.

dole

2  [dohl]
–noun Archaic.
grief or sorrow; lamentation.
Origin:
1200–50; ME do(e)l < AF, OF < LL dolus, for L dolor dolor

Dole

  [dohl]
–noun
1. Robert J(oseph), born 1923, U.S. politician: senator 1969–96.
2. Sanford Ballard, 1844–1926, U.S. politician and jurist in Hawaii: president of Republic of Hawaii 1894–98; first territorial governor 1900–03.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Dole
dole 1   (dōl)   
n.  

  1. Charitable dispensation of goods, especially money, food, or clothing.

  2. A share of money, food, or clothing that has been charitably given.

  3. Chiefly British The distribution by the government of relief payments to the unemployed; welfare.

  4. Archaic One's fate.

tr.v.   doled, dol·ing, doles

  1. To dispense as charity.

  2. To give out in small portions; distribute sparingly. See Synonyms at distribute.


[Middle English dol, part, share, from Old English dāl; see dail- in Indo-European roots.]
dole 2   (dōl)   
n.   Archaic
Sorrow; grief; dolor.

[Middle English dol, from Old French dol, deul, from Late Latin dolus, from Latin dolēre, to feel pain, grieve.]
Dole   (dōl)   
American politician who served as a U.S. representative (1961-1969) and senator (1969-1996) from Kansas. He ran as Vice President in Gerald Ford's unsuccessful presidential campaign (1976) and was the Republican presidential nominee in the 1996 election.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dole 
O.E. dal "sharing, giving out," shortened from gedal "portion," related to dæl "deal," from P.Gmc. *dailiz. Meaning of "charitable portion" (1362) led to verb "hand out charity" (1465). On the dole is 1920s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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