Portion, pōr′shun, n. a part: an allotment: fate: destiny: dividend: the part of an estate descending to an heir: a wife's fortune.—v.t. to divide into portions: to allot a share: to furnish with a portion.—adj. Por′tioned, having a portion or endowment.—ns. Por′tioner, one who portions or assigns shares: (Scots law) the occupier of a small feu or portion of land: one of two or more incumbents on a benefice at one time; Por′tionist, one who has an academical allowance: the incumbent of a benefice which has more than one rector or vicar.—adj. Por′tionless, having no portion, dowry, or property.—Marriage portion, a gift given by a parent or guardian to a bride on her marriage. [O. Fr.,—L. portio, portionis, akin to pars, a part.]
Portland vase. See Vase.
Portly, pōrt′li, adj. having a dignified port or mien: corpulent: (Shak.) swelling.—n. Port′liness, state of being portly. [Port, bearing.]
Portman, pōrt′man, n. an inhabitant of a port-town, or one of the Cinque Ports.—n. Port′-mote, a mote composed of such citizens.
Portmanteau, port-man′tō, n. a bag for carrying apparel, &c., on journeys: a hook on which to hang clothing.—Also Portman′tua (obs.). [Fr.,—porter, to carry, manteau, a cloak.]
Portoise, pōr′tiz, n. the gunwale of a boat.—Also Port′last.
Portrait, pōr′trāt, n. the likeness of a person, esp. of his face: a vivid description in words.—v.t. (obs.) to portray.—ns. Por′traitist, a portrait-painter; Por′traiture, a likeness: the drawing of portraits, or describing in words: a collection of pictures.—v.t. Portray (pōr-trā′), to paint or draw the likeness of: to describe in words: (obs.) to adorn.—ns. Portray′al, the act of portraying; Portray′er.—Composite portraits, a method of indicating the facial characteristics of a family or group of persons, while at the same time suppressing the peculiarities of individual members. [O. Fr. portrait, portraire—L. pro, forth, trahĕre, to draw.]
Portreeve, pōrt′rēv, n. once the name of the principal magistrate in a port-town, esp. in London. [A.S. portgeréfa—port, a port, geréfa, a reeve.]
Portuguese, pōr′tū-gēz, adj. of or pertaining to Portugal or to its inhabitants.—n. the people, a single inhabitant, or the language of Portugal.—Portuguese man-of-war, a species of Physalia.
Portulaceæ, pōr-tū-lā′sē-ē, n.pl. a natural order of exogenous plants, shrubby or herbaceous, generally succulent, mostly growing in dry places. [L. portulaca, purslane.]