əˈpōrshən, -ȯrsh-, -ōəsh-, -ȯ(ə)sh- also aˈ- transitive verb
( apportioned ; apportioned ; apportioning -sh(ə)niŋ ; apportions )
Etymology: Middle French apportionner, from a- (from Latin ad- ) + portionner to portion — more at portion
: to divide and assign in proportion : divide and distribute proportionately : make an apportionment of : portion out : allot
apportion time among various employments
specifically : to assign (a capitation or other direct federal tax) among the states in proportion to population as provided in the United States Constitution
Synonyms:
portion , parcel , ration , prorate : apportion applies to distribution on an equitable, or suitable basis
representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each — U.S. Constitution
he will be a brave man who will apportion responsibility for Britain's attitude between parties and classes — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
nature seems to have apportioned the voices of many of her creatures with sensitive regard for their environment — William Beebe
portion may apply to distribution of more or less equal shares
firing 270 rounds portioned equally among pistols of three calibers — Time
parcel , usually used with out, may indicate division into many small pieces, lots, or units for subsequent delivery, claim, or execution
being compelled to parcel out its inadequate combat resources sparingly between the many vulnerable points — Herbert Feis
Mother would parcel out her year: three months with Herbert and Mabel, three with Carrie and Roland — Victoria Sackville-West
ration may apply to division by authority, presumably equitably, on some such basis as need
where capital is short, it must be rationed intelligently, in the same way as gasoline and sugar were rationed in wartime — A.B.Lans
he rationed his time, told visitors he could give them three minutes — Time
prorate suggests equitable proportional distribution according to authority or common agreement
the entire field was to be put in truck crops, and the yield prorated to the workers — Russell Lord
Synonym: see in addition allot .