1. To divide; to part; to separate; hence, to divide in portions; to distribute; often followed by out.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? Isa 1:8.

And Rome deals out her blessing and her gold.

2. To scatter; to throw about; as, to deal out feathered deaths.

3. To throw out in succession; to give one after another; as, to deal out blows.

4. To distribute the cards of a pack to the players.

, n,

1. Literally, a division; a part or portion; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree or extent; as a deal of time and trouble; a deal of cold; a deal of space. Formerly it was limited by some, as some deal; but this is now obsolete or vulgar. In general, we now qualify the word with great, as a great deal of labor; a great deal of time and pains; a great deal of land. In the phrases, it is a great deal better or worse, the words, great deal, serve as modifiers of the sense of better and worse. The true construction is, it is, by a great deal, better; it is better by a great deal, that is, by a great part or difference.

2. The division or distribution of cards; the art or practice of dealing cards.

The deal, the shuffle, and the cut.

3. The division of a piece of timber made by sawing; a board or plank; a sense much more used in England than in the U. States.