Deal (dēl), n. [OE. del, deel, part, AS. d&aemacr_;l; akin to OS. dēl, D. & Dan. deel, G. theil, teil, Icel. deild, Sw. del, Goth. dails. √65. Cf. 3d Dole.] 1. A part or portion; a share; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree, or extent, degree, or extent; as, a deal of time and trouble; a deal of cold.
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Three tenth deals [parts of an ephah] of flour. Num. xv. 9.
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As an object of science it [the Celtic genius] may count for a good deal . . . as a spiritual power. M. Arnold.
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She was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect. W. Black.
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&hand_; It was formerly limited by some, every, never a, a thousand, etc.; as, some deal; but these are now obsolete or vulgar. In general, we now qualify the word with great or good, and often use it adverbially, by being understood; as, a great deal of time and pains; a great (or good) deal better or worse; that is, better by a great deal, or by a great part or difference.
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2. The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the portion disturbed.
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The deal, the shuffle, and the cut. Swift.
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3. Distribution; apportionment. [Colloq.]
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4. An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination of interested parties; -- applied to stock speculations and political bargains. [Slang]
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5. [Prob. from D. deel a plank, threshing floor. See Thill.] The division of a piece of timber made by sawing; a board or plank; particularly, a board or plank of fir or pine above seven inches in width, and exceeding six feet in length. If narrower than this, it is called a batten; if shorter, a deal end.
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&hand_; Whole deal is a general term for planking one and one half inches thick.
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6. Wood of the pine or fir; as, a floor of deal.
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Deal tree, a fir tree. Dr. Prior.
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Deal, v. i. 1. To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards to the players.
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2. To do a distributing or retailing business, as distinguished from that of a manufacturer or producer; to traffic; to trade; to do business; as, he deals in flour.
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They buy and sell, they deal and traffic. South.
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This is to drive to wholesale trade, when all other petty merchants deal but for parcels. Dr. H. More.
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3. To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to manage; to make arrangements; -- followed by between or with.
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Sometimes he that deals between man and man, raiseth his own credit with both, by pretending greater interest than he hath in either. Bacon.
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4. To conduct one's self; to behave or act in any affair or towards any one; to treat.
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If he will deal clearly and impartially, . . . he will acknowledge all this to be true. Tillotson.
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5. To contend (with); to treat (with), by way of opposition, check, or correction; as, he has turbulent passions to deal with.
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To deal by, to treat, either well or ill; as, to deal well by servants. “Such an one deals not fairly by his own mind.” Locke. -- To deal in. (a) To have to do with; to be engaged in; to practice; as, they deal in political matters. (b) To buy and sell; to furnish, as a retailer or wholesaler; as, they deal in fish. -- To deal with. (a) To treat in any manner; to use, whether well or ill; to have to do with; specifically, to trade with. “Dealing with witches.” Shak. (b) To reprove solemnly; to expostulate with.
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The deacons of his church, who, to use their own phrase, “dealt with him” on the sin of rejecting the aid which Providence so manifestly held out. Hawthorne.
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Return . . . and I will deal well with thee. Gen. xxxii. 9.
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