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lot⋅ter⋅y

  [lot-uh-ree]
Use lotteries in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ter⋅ies.
1. a gambling game or method of raising money, as for some public charitable purpose, in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes.
2. any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance.
3. any happening or process that is or appears to be determined by chance: to look upon life as a lottery.
Origin:
1560–70; < MD loterie (whence also F loterie). See lot, -ery
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lot·ter·y   (lŏt'ə-rē)   
n.   pl. lot·ter·ies
  1. A contest in which tokens are distributed or sold, the winning token or tokens being secretly predetermined or ultimately selected in a random drawing.
  2. A selection made by lot from a number of applicants or competitors: The state uses a lottery to assign spaces in the campground.
  3. An activity or event regarded as having an outcome depending on fate: They considered combat duty a lottery.

[French loterie, probably from Dutch loterije, from Middle Dutch, from lot, lot.]
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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Art Union
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www.rslartunion.com.au