"divide and assign according to rule," 1570s, from French apportionner, from Old French aporcioner "apportion, share out," from a- "to" (see ad-) + portioner "to divide into portions," from portion "share, portion" (see portion (n.)). Related: Apportioned; apportioning.

"a dividing into portions or shares," 1620s, from apportion + -ment. Perhaps influenced by French apportionnement. In U.S. especially of distribution of seats in the House of Representatives.

also re-apportion, "make a new apportionment," 1832, from re- + apportion or else a back-formation from reapportionment. Related: Reapportioned; reapportioning.

1620s (variously spelled), in India, Egypt, etc., "a gratuity, present in money," from Persian bakhshish, literally "gift," from verb bakhshidan "to give" (also "to forgive"), from PIE root *bhag- "to share out, apportion; to get a share."

word-forming element meaning "eater," from stem of Greek phagein "to eat," from PIE root *bhag- "to share out, apportion; to get a share."

also re-allocate, "apportion or assign again," by 1868, from re- "back, again" + allocate. Related: Reallocated; reallocating.

also re-distribute, "distribute again, apportion afresh," 1610s, from re- "back, again" + distribute. Political economy sense is by 1863. Related: Redistributed; redistributing.

"inability to swallow," 1854, from a- (3) "not, without" + abstract noun from Greek phagein "to eat" (from PIE root *bhag- "to share out, apportion; to get a share").

"divide or apportion (a state) again into districts; redraw the boundaries of districts," 1838, in U.S. political sense, from re- "again" + district. Related: Redistricted; redistricting.

late 14c., "worthy of praise;" mid-15c., "permissible, not forbidden," from Old French alloable "permissible, allowable," from alloer "allot, apportion, bestow" (see allow).