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apportion - 5 dictionary results

ap⋅por⋅tion

  [uh-pawr-shuhn, uh-pohr-]
Use apportion in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
to distribute or allocate proportionally; divide and assign according to some rule of proportional distribution: to apportion expenses among the three men.
Origin:
1565–75; < MF apportionner, equiv. to ap- ap- 1 + portionner to portion

Related forms:
ap⋅por⋅tion⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ap⋅por⋅tion⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To apportion
ap·por·tion   (ə-pôr'shən, -pōr'-)   
tr.v.   ap·por·tioned, ap·por·tion·ing, ap·por·tions
To divide and assign according to a plan; allot: "The tendency persists to apportion blame as suits the circumstances" (Natalie Angier).

[French apportioner, from Old French : a-, to (from Latin ad-, ad-) + portionner, to divide into portions (from portion, portion; see portion).]
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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Apportion

Ap*por"tion\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Apportioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Apportioning.] [OF. apportionner, LL. apportionare, fr. L. ad + portio. See Portion.] To divide and assign in just proportion; to divide and distribute proportionally; to portion out; to allot; as, to apportion undivided rights; to apportion time among various employments.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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apportion 
1574, from M.Fr. apportionner, from O.Fr. apportioner, from a- "to" + portioner "to divide into portions," from portion "share, portion" (see portion).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ap·por·tion
Pronunciation: &-'por-sh&n
Function: transitive verb
: to make a usually proportionate division or distribution of (an amount due) according to a plan: as a : to divide (an amount due in tax or other liability) among the parties responsible for respective shares of the payment —compare CONTRIBUTION b : to assign (a portion of the consideration agreed to in a contract) as payment for the other party's partial performance c : to distribute (corporate dividends) based on some proportion d : to assign (legislative representatives and taxes) among the states as provided by law —ap·por·tion·able adjective —ap·por·tion·ment noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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