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: pittance, share, alms

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, dol·ing.

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: ration, mete

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

/ dəʊl /

noun

1. archaic.
   grief or mourning

dole

²

/ dəʊl /

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

verb

1. trusually foll byout to distribute, esp in small portions

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

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the dole, receiving payment from the government, as relief:

   They couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole.

Example Sentences

As Republican Sen. Bob Dole explained when the issue came up again nearly 200 years later, in 1980, the point of the law, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine, was—and is—to “protect the president’s position under Article II, Sec. 3 of the Constitution, as the sole representative of the United States in dealing with foreign nations.”

From Slate

But you can create a trust to receive and dole out the proceeds to your child.

From Los Angeles Times

They might dole out candy, money, or advice to strangers.

From Slate

In 1976, in the first-ever televised vice presidential debate, Republican Bob Dole notoriously described World War I, World War II and others that Americans fought in the 20th century as “Democrat wars.”

From Los Angeles Times

It took Dole years to live down his image as a political hatchet man.

From Los Angeles Times