Dole vs Dote - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between dole and dote

is that dole is to distribute in small amounts; to share out small portions of a meager resource while dote is to be excessively fond of.

As nouns the difference between dole and dote

is that dole is money or other goods given as charity while dote is a darling, a cutie.

dole

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) dol, from (etyl) .

Verb

(dol)

To distribute in small amounts; to share out small portions of a meager resource.

Noun

Money or other goods given as charity.

* Dryden

So sure the dole , so ready at their call, / They stood prepar'd to see the manna fall.

* Keble

Heaven has in store a precious dole .

Distribution; dealing; apportionment.

* Cleveland

At her general dole , / Each receives his ancient soul.

(informal) Payment by the state to the unemployed.

I get my dole paid twice a week.

I?ve been on the dole for two years now.

* 1996 , , page 107,

The men sit because they?re worn out from walking to the Labour Exchange every morning to sign for the dole , discussing the world?s problems and wondering what to do with the rest of the day.

* 1997 , , OECD Economic Surveys: Australia , page 67,

The FY 1997/98 Commonwealth budget allocated funding of A$ 21.6 million to the Work for the Dole initiative for unemployed young people.

A boundary; a landmark.

(Halliwell)

(UK, dialect) A void space left in tillage.

Etymology 2

(etyl) dolus, from (etyl) doleo.

Noun

(-)

(archaic) Sorrow or grief; dolour.

* 1485 , , 1868, Morte Darthur , page 212,

Sir, said Sir Gingalin, I wot not what knight he was, but well I wot that he sigheth, and maketh great dole .

* Tennyson

And she died. So that day there was dole in Astolat.

(legal, Scotland) dolus

Derived terms

* (payment to support the unemployed) dole bludger

Anagrams

* ----

dote

English

Alternative forms

* doat (obsolete)

Verb

(dot)

To be excessively fond of.

Little Bill's parents just keep doting on him.

(archaic) To act in a foolish manner; to be senile.

* Dryden

Time has made you dote , and vainly tell / Of arms imagined in your lonely cell.

* South

He survived the use of his reason, grew infatuated, and doted long before he died.

Synonyms

* (to be fond of) adore, love

Noun

(en noun)

(Ireland) A darling, a cutie.

* Ted’s daughter is such a dote .

(obsolete) An imbecile; a dotard.

(Halliwell)

Anagrams

* ----