Allotment
Pronunciation
/əˈlɒtmənt/
Definitions
- An amount of something that is given to someone or assigned to them.
- A plot of land or property that is assigned for a particular purpose.
- The action or process of allotting something.
Usage Examples
- The company has given me an allotment of vacation days for the year.
- The council decided to grant an allotment of land for community gardens.
- She received an allotment of funds for her research project.
Etymology
From Middle English "allotment," from Old French "alotement," from "aloter" meaning "to allot," from the Latin "ad" (to) + "lot" (a share or portion). The word originally referred to the process of distributing shares or portions.
Synonyms
- Allocation
- Assignment
- Distribution
- Share
Antonyms
- Unallocation
- Loss
- Withdrawal
Translations
Language |
Translation |
Pronunciation |
English |
Allotment |
/əˈlɒtmənt/ |
Spanish |
Asignación |
/asiɣnaˈθjon/ |
French |
Attribution |
/atʁibysjɔ̃/ |
German |
Zuteilung |
/tsuˈtaɪlʊŋ/ |
Chinese (Mandarin) |
配额 (Pèi'é) |
/pèiˈɚ/ |
Arabic |
تخصيص (Takhsīṣ) |
/taˈxsiːs/ |
Russian |
Распределение (Raspredeleniye) |
/rasprʲɪdʲɪˈlʲenʲɪje/ |
Hindi |
आवंटन (Āvaṇṭan) |
/aːʋənˈʈən/ |
Bengali |
বণ্টন (Baṇṭan) |
/ˈbɔnt̪ɔn/ |
Telugu |
విభజన (Vibhajana) |
/ʋɪˈbʌdʒənə/ |
Tamil |
வகுப்பு (Vaguppu) |
/ʋəˈɡʊppʊ/ |
Gujarati |
હિસ્સો (Hisso) |
/ˈhɪsːoʊ/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- In American English, "allotment" may be pronounced with more emphasis on the first syllable: /əˈlɒtmənt/.
- In British English, the pronunciation tends to be softer, with a slight emphasis on the second syllable: /əˈlɒtmənt/.
Historical Usage
The term "allotment" has been in use since the 14th century, referring to the process of distributing land or shares among individuals, especially for farming or housing purposes. In the 19th century, allotments became an important part of urban planning, providing the working classes with small plots of land for personal use or gardening.
Cultural Nuances
In the context of agriculture, allotments have historically played an important role in allowing individuals to cultivate their own food. In urban settings, particularly in Europe, the concept of an "allotment garden" or "community garden" is still prevalent today, offering city dwellers access to personal plots of land for horticultural purposes.
More Information
Allotments have been used in various ways throughout history, especially in contexts where land distribution or resource allocation was needed. The practice of allotting land or resources can be traced back to feudal societies, where land was granted to individuals for specific purposes, often related to agriculture. In modern times, the concept of allotments has expanded to include the distribution of various resources, from time to financial resources.