Emily Dickinson Lexicon

POR'TION, n. [L. portio, from partio, to divide, from pars, part. See Part.]

1. In general, a part of any thing separated from it. Hence,
2. A part, though not actually divided, but considered by itself. These are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him. – Job xxvi.
3. A part assigned; an allotment; a dividend. How small / A portion to your share would fall. – Waller. The priests had a portion assigned them by Pharaoh. – Gen. xlvii.
4. The part of an estate given to a child or heir, or descending to him by law, and distributed to him in the settlement of the estate.
5. A wife's fortune.