apportions
|a-por-tion-s|
🇺🇸
/əˈpɔrʃən/
🇬🇧
/əˈpɔːʃən/
(apportion)
divide proportionally
Etymology
'apportion' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'apportioner', where the element 'a-' meant 'to' (from Latin ad-) and 'portion' meant 'a share'.
'apportion' changed from Old French 'apportioner' into Middle English forms (e.g. 'apportionen') and eventually became the modern English 'apportion'.
Initially, it meant 'to give or assign a share', and over time it retained this core sense of dividing or assigning portions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
third-person singular present form of 'apportion': to divide and allocate (something, e.g. money, resources, costs) among people or groups.
Each year the board apportions the available funds among the regional offices.
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Verb 2
third-person singular present form of 'apportion': to attribute or assign (an amount, share, responsibility, blame) to a particular person, cause, or purpose.
The court apportions blame for the accident among several parties.
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Last updated: 2025/09/26 09:44