lot

Examples: "I can see the lot from here." "That lot belongs to me." "The lot is very important."

Middle English {it}lot, lott{/it} "object used to decide a matter by chance, decision by the use of such objects, what one receives through such a decision, destiny, share," going back to Old English {it}hlot,{/it} going back to Germanic {it}*hluta-{/it} (whence also Old Frisian {it}hlot, lot{/it} "lot," Old High German {it}hluz,{/it} Old Norse {it}hlutr{/it}), noun derivative from a verb {it}*hleutan-{/it} "to cast lots" (whence Old English {it}hlēotan{/it} "to cast lots, obtain, gain as one's lot," Old Saxon {it}hliotan{/it} "to obtain," Old High German {it}liozan{/it} "to cast lots," Old Norse {it}hjlóta{/it} "to get by lot, obtain, undergo"), of uncertain origin