View synonyms for dole

dole

[ dohl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., especially as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance.
Synonyms: pittance, share, alms
a dealing out or distributing, especially in charity.
a form of payment to the unemployed instituted by the British government in 1918.
any similar payment by a government to an unemployed person.
Archaic. one's fate or destiny.

verb (used with object)

, doled, dol·ing.

to distribute in charity.
to give out sparingly or in small quantities (usually followed by out ):
The last of the water was doled out to the thirsty crew.
Synonyms: ration, mete

dole

[ dohl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Archaic.

grief or sorrow; lamentation.

Dole

[ dohl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Robert J(oseph), 1923–2021, U.S. politician: senator 1969–96.
Sanford Ballard, 1844–1926, U.S. politician and jurist in Hawaii: president of Republic of Hawaii 1894–98; first territorial governor 1900–03.

dole

/ dəʊl /

noun

archaic.
grief or mourning

dole

/ dəʊl /

noun

a small portion or share, as of money or food, given to a poor person
the act of giving or distributing such portions
the dole informal.
money received from the state while out of work
on the dole informal.
receiving such money
archaic.
fate

verb

trusually foll byout to distribute, esp in small portions

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dole¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dol, dal “part, subdivision,” Old English dāl, gedāl “sharing”; deal ¹

Origin of dole²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dol, dol(e), doll from Old French duel, doel, from Late Latin dolus, for Latin dolor dolor

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dole¹

C13: from Old French, from Late Latin dolus, from Latin dolēre to lament

Origin of dole²

Old English dāl share; related to Old Saxon dēl, Old Norse deild, Gothic dails, Old High German teil; see deal ¹

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

on the dole, receiving payment from the government, as relief:
They couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole.

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Example Sentences

After his escape thence he returned to Dôle, to reap honour and glory from the Society.

From Project Gutenberg

Doubs, a tributary of the Saône, which it falls into below Dôle; gives name to the dep.

From Project Gutenberg

He drove the French away from Dôle, but after that he would not stir another finger.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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