Definition of "lot"

He wrote to her […] he might be detained in London by a lot of business.

1877, William Black, Green Pastures and Piccadilly, volume 2, page 4

I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out.

1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 3, in Mr. Pratt's Patients, page 52

The defendants leased a house and lot, in the City of New-York

1820, James Kent, edited by William Johnson, Reports of cases adjudged in the Court of Chancery of New-York‎, volume 5, published 1822

But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book), Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, page 1

The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Proverbs 16:33

If we draw lots, he speeds.

c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene iii]

O visions ill foreseen! Each day's lot's / Enough to bear.

1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,

He was but born to try / The lot of man — to suffer and to die.

1725, Homer, “Book III”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot

[…] as Jones alone was discovered, the poor lad bore not only the whole smart, but the whole blame; both which fell again to his lot on the following occasion.

1749, Henry Fielding, chapter II, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], book III

We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life.

1977, C-3PO, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

In the lottery […] Sir R. Haddock one of the Commissrs of the Navy had the greatest lot, £3000 ; my coachman £ 40

1694 November 22 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819

Archons served only for one year and, since 487/6, they were chosen by lot. Generals, on the other hand, were chosen by direct election and could be reelected without limit.

1990: Donald Kagan, Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy, chapter 2: “Politician”, page 40 (Guild Publishing; CN 2239)