To draw lots

To draw lots
Lot Lot (l[o^]t), n. [AS. hlot; akin to hle['o]tan to cast lots, OS. hl[=o]t lot, D. lot, G. loos, OHG. l[=o]z, Icel. hlutr, Sw. lott, Dan. lod, Goth. hlauts. Cf. {Allot}, {Lotto}, {Lottery}.] [1913 Webster] 1. That which happens without human design or forethought; chance; accident; hazard; fortune; fate. [1913 Webster]

But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything (as a die, pebble, ball, or slip of paper) used in determining a question by chance, or without man's choice or will; as, to cast or draw lots. [1913 Webster]

The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. --Prov. xvi. 33. [1913 Webster]

If we draw lots, he speeds. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. The part, or fate, which falls to one, as it were, by chance, or without his planning. [1913 Webster]

O visions ill foreseen! Each day's lot's Enough to bear. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

He was but born to try The lot of man -- to suffer and to die. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. A separate portion; a number of things taken collectively; all objects sold in a single purchase transaction; as, a lot of stationery; -- colloquially, sometimes of people; as, a sorry lot; a bad lot. [1913 Webster]

I, this winter, met with a very large lot of English heads, chiefly of the reign of James I. --Walpole. [1913 Webster]

5. A distinct portion or plot of land, usually smaller than a field; as, a building lot in a city. [1913 Webster]

The defendants leased a house and lot in the city of New York. --Kent. [1913 Webster]

6. A large quantity or number; a great deal; as, to spend a lot of money; to waste a lot of time on line; lots of people think so. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

He wrote to her . . . he might be detained in London by a lot of business. --W. Black. [1913 Webster]

7. A prize in a lottery. [Obs.] --Evelyn. [1913 Webster]

{To cast in one's lot with}, to share the fortunes of.

{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, or make a decision, by drawing one thing from a number whose marks are concealed from the drawer.

{To pay scot and lot}, to pay taxes according to one's ability. See {Scot}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • draw lots — {v. phr.} To select at random from a series in order to determine precedents or apportionment. * /The refugees to be evacuated drew lots on who would get a place on the first airplane out of the besieged city./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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  • To draw lots — draw draw (dr[add]), v. t. [imp. {Drew} (dr[udd]); p. p. {Drawn} (dr[add]n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Drawing}.] [OE. dra[yogh]en, drahen, draien, drawen, AS. dragan; akin to Icel. & Sw. draga, Dan. drage to draw, carry, and prob. to OS. dragan to bear,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • draw lots (for something do something) — draw/cast ˈlots (for sth/to do sth) idiom to choose sb/sth by lot • They drew lots for the right to go first. Main entry: ↑lotidiom …   Useful english dictionary

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  • draw lots — ► draw (or cast) lots decide by lot. Main Entry: ↑lot …   English terms dictionary

  • draw lots — cast lots we drew lots to see who gets to drive Syn: toss/flip a coin, draw straws, throw/roll (the) dice …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • draw\ lots — v. phr. To select at random from a series in order to determine precedents or apportionment. The refugees to be evacuated drew lots on who would get a place on the first airplane out of the besieged city …   Словарь американских идиом

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