Lot \Lot\, n. [AS. hlot; akin to hle['o]tan to cast lots, OS. hl?t lot, D. lot, G. loos, OHG. l?z, Icel. hlutr, Sw. lott, Dan. lod, Goth. hlauts. Cf. Allot, Lotto, Lottery.] 1. That which happens without human design or forethought; chance; accident; hazard; fortune; fate. But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay. --Spenser. 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. The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. --Prov. xvi. 33. If we draw lots, he speeds. --Shak. 3. The part, or fate, which falls to one, as it were, by chance, or without his planning. O visions ill foreseen! Each day's lot's Enough to bear. --Milton. He was but born to try The lot of man -- to suffer and to die. --Pope. 4. A separate portion; a number of things taken collectively; as, a lot of stationery; -- colloquially, sometimes of people; as, a sorry lot; a bad lot. I, this winter, met with a very large lot of English heads, chiefly of the reign of James I. --Walpole. 5. A distinct portion or plot of land, usually smaller than a field; as, a building lot in a city. The defendants leased a house and lot in the city of New York. --Kent. 6. A large quantity or number; a great deal; as, to spend a lot of money; lots of people think so. [Colloq.] He wrote to her . . . he might be detained in London by a lot of business. --W. Black. 7. A prize in a lottery. [Obs.] --Evelyn. 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.

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