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Portion vs Ration - What's the difference?

portion | ration |

In transitive terms the difference between portion and ration

is that portion is to endow with a portion or inheritance while ration is to restrict (an activity etc..

portion

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An allocated amount.
  • That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
  • One's fate; lot.
  • * Bible, Luke xii. 46
    • The lord of that servant will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
  • * Keble
    • Man's portion is to die and rise again.
  • The part of an estate given or falling to a child or heir; an inheritance.
  • * Bible, Luke xv. 12
    • Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
  • A wife's fortune; a dowry.
  • * 1613 , , V. iv. 31:
    • Commend me to her, and to piece her portion / Tender her this.

    Usage notes

    Relatively formal, compared to the more informal part or more concrete and casual piece. For example, “part of the money” (both informal) but “portion of the proceeds” (both formal).

    Synonyms

    * part * piece

    Derived terms

    * portionless * proportion

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.
  • To endow with a portion or inheritance.
    • Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. — Alexander Pope.

    Usage notes

    * Particularly used as portion out. * Relatively formal, compared to the more informal divide, divide up, or the casual divvy, divvy up.

    Synonyms

    * divide, divide up * divvy, divvy up

    Derived terms

    * portion off * portion out

    External links

    * * ----

    ration

    English

    (wikipedia ration)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A portion designated to a person or group.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To supply with a ration; to limit (someone) to a specific allowance of something.
    • We rationed ourselves to three sips of water a day until we were rescued.
  • To portion out (especially during a shortage of supply); to limit access to.
    • By the third day on the raft, we had to ration our water.
  • To restrict (an activity etc.)
    • Our present health care system is rationed only to those who can afford it because of unnecessary high cost, lack of insurance coverage by 47 million people, and exorbitant prescription prices.

    Anagrams

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