\Deal\ (d[=e]l), n. [OE. del, deel, part, AS. d[=ae]l; akin
to OS. d[=e]l, D. & Dan. deel, G. theil, teil, Icel. deild,
Sw. del, Goth. dails. [root]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.
         Three tenth deals [parts of an ephah] of flour.
                                               --Num. xv. 9.
         As an object of science it [the Celtic genius] may
         count for a good deal . . . as a spiritual power.
                                               --M. Arnold.
         She was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect.
                                               --W. Black.
Note: 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.
2. The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the
   portion disturbed.
         The deal, the shuffle, and the cut.   --Swift.
3. Distribution; apportionment. [Colloq.]
4. An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination
   of interested parties; -- applied to stock speculations
   and political bargains. [Slang]
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.
Note: Whole deal is a general term for planking one and one
      half inches thick.
6. Wood of the pine or fir; as, a floor of deal.
{Deal tree}, a fir tree. --Dr. Prior.

\Deal\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dealt} (d[e^]lt); p. pr. & vb.
n. {Dealing}.] [OE. delen, AS. d[=ae]lan, fr. d[=ae]l share;
akin to OS. d[=e]lian, D. deelen, G. theilen, teilen, Icel.
deila, Sw. dela, Dan. dele, Goth. dailjan. See {Deal}, n.]
1. To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in
   portions; to distribute; to bestow successively; --
   sometimes with out.
         Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? --Is.
                                               lviii. 7.
         And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold.
                                               --Tickell.
         The nightly mallet deals resounding blows. --Gay.
         Hissing through the skies, the feathery deaths were
         dealt.                                --Dryden.
2. Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at
   the commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal
   one a jack.

\Deal\, v. i.
1. To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards
   to the players.
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.
         They buy and sell, they deal and traffic. --South.
         This is to drive to wholesale trade, when all other
         petty merchants deal but for parcels. --Dr. H. More.
3. To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to
   manage; to make arrangements; -- followed by between or
   with.
         Sometimes he that deals between man and man, raiseth
         his own credit with both, by pretending greater
         interest than he hath in either.      --Bacon.
4. To conduct one's self; to behave or act in any affair or
   towards any one; to treat.
         If he will deal clearly and impartially, . . . he
         will acknowledge all this to be true. --Tillotson.
5. To contend (with); to treat (with), by way of opposition,
   check, or correction; as, he has turbulent passions to
   deal with.
{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.
             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.
             Return . . . and I will deal well with thee.
                                               --Gen. xxxii.
                                               9.