I. ˈpȯr-shən noun
Etymology: Middle English porcioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin portion-, portio; akin to Latin part-, pars part
Date: 14th century
1. : an individual's part or share of something: as
a. : a share received by gift or inheritance
b. : dowry
c. : enough food especially of one kind to serve one person at one meal
2. : an individual's lot, fate, or fortune : one's share of good and evil
3. : an often limited part set off or abstracted from a whole
Synonyms: see part , fate
II. transitive verb
( por·tioned ; por·tion·ing -sh(ə-)niŋ)
Date: 14th century
1. : to divide into portions : distribute
portion ed out the food equally
2. : to allot a dowry to : dower