admeasure
C2Formal, Technical, Legal
Definition
Meaning
To apportion or measure out (a share or portion); to determine and assign proportions.
To determine dimensions, size, or boundaries; to measure out or allot according to a plan or rule.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A formal verb often used in legal, technical, and historical contexts, carrying a sense of precise, official measurement or allotment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally rare in both variants. Its primary usage is in specific formal domains like law, where spelling conventions follow national standards.
Connotations
In both regions, it connotes legalistic or bureaucratic precision.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both British and American English. It is an archaism outside of technical domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The court will admeasure [DIRECT OBJECT] among the claimants.They admeasured [DIRECT OBJECT] to [RECIPIENT].It is necessary to admeasure [DIRECT OBJECT] according to [STANDARD].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Historical or formal contexts, e.g., 'The trust deed admeasures the profits among the beneficiaries.'
Academic
In historical, legal, or philosophical texts discussing distributive justice or property rights.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in legal documents, surveying, maritime law (e.g., admeasuring a ship's tonnage), and historical land grant contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tribunal will admeasure the liability among the joint defendants.
- Ancient charters admeasured the common land to the villagers.
- The surveyor admeasured the plot for the new development.
American English
- The judge admeasured the damages proportionally.
- The treaty admeasured fishing rights in the coastal waters.
- The committee admeasured the grant funds to the various departments.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old law admeasured a portion of the harvest to the church.
- The captain admeasured the rations for the long voyage.
- The court's primary task was to admeasure the blame between the negligent parties.
- The arbitrator must admeasure the costs in a fair and equitable manner.
- Historical documents show how land was admeasured among the settlers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ADD + MEASURE' = to add by measuring out portions.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAIR DISTRIBUTION IS MEASURED PORTIONING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'измерять' (to measure) in a general sense; the core is 'распределять, выделять долю' (to distribute, to allocate a share).
- Do not confuse with 'assess' ('оценивать').
Common Mistakes
- Using it in informal contexts.
- Confusing it with 'measure' (which is more general).
- Incorrect pronunciation: stress is on the second syllable, not the first.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'admeasure' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and used almost exclusively in formal, legal, or historical contexts.
'Measure' is general (to find size/amount). 'Admeasure' is specific: to measure out portions to people, i.e., to apportion.
It would sound archaic. Modern equivalents like 'allocate', 'apportion', or 'distribute' are strongly preferred.
Yes, 'admeasurement' exists but is equally rare, meaning the act or result of admeasuring.