To allot is to give a share of something to someone, usually according to a plan or rule. It often refers to dividing time, money, or resources fairly.
From Old French *aloter* “to divide into lots,” from *lot* meaning “share, portion decided by chance.” It shifted from random assignment to planned distribution.
Allot grew out of the idea of drawing lots—letting chance decide who gets what. Even when we carefully plan today’s allotments, that history reminds us how often distribution still feels like luck to the people receiving it.
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