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Today it means

portion

a part or share of something

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Where does the word "portion" come from? It comes from Latin portio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

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Where does the word "portion" come from? It comes from Latin portio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Portion’s story begins in Latin: portio meant “share.” Related to 'pars', part. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as porcion. A share of an inheritance. It reached English by 1200s as portion. Food 'portions' date from the 1800s. Today, portion means a part or share of something.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient portio "share", related to 'pars', part.
  2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval porcion "share", a share of an inheritance.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s portion "a share", food 'portions' date from the 1800s.

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