51Թ

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dole

1

[ dohl ]

noun

  1. a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., especially as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. a dealing out or distributing, especially 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)

doled, doling.
  1. to distribute in charity.
  2. 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: ,

dole

2

[ dohl ]

noun

Archaic.
  1. grief or sorrow; lamentation.

Dole

3

[ dohl ]

noun

  1. Robert J(oseph), 1923–2021, 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.

dole

1

/ əʊ /

noun

  1. a small portion or share, as of money or food, given to a poor person
  2. the act of giving or distributing such portions
  3. the dole informal.
    money received from the state while out of work
  4. on the dole informal.
    receiving such money
  5. archaic.
    fate
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. trusually foll byout to distribute, esp in small portions
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dole

2

/ əʊ /

noun

  1. archaic.
    grief or mourning
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of dole1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dol, dal “part, subdivision,” Old English , ge “s󲹰Բ”; 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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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of dole1

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

Origin of dole2

C13: from Old French, from Late Latin dolus, from Latin DZŧ to lament
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. 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

Examples have not been reviewed.

In the meantime, Jasso and her colleagues doled out hot instant soup, fresh fruit and backpacks through the slots in the fence.

From

Musk has fired back on his social media platform, X, doling out blame for the attacks on Democrats and others.

From

But it’s more fun watching him take abuse than dole it out.

From

PIP cuts don't fit in to the narrative of providing opportunities to people who are languishing on the dole.

From

Elon Musk is not taking the setbacks doled out to the Department of Government Efficiency in stride.

From

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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