I.c.acc. to obtain by lot, by fate, by the will of the gods, Hom.; with inf. added, ἔλαχον πολιὴν ἅλα ναιέμεν I had the sea for my portion to dwell in, says Poseidon, Il.; ἔλαχ᾽ ἄναξ δούλην σ᾽ ἔχειν Eur.:—of the genius presiding over one's life, ἐμὲ μὲν Κὴρ λάχε Il.; esp. in perf. to be the tutelary deity of a place, to protect it, θεοῖσιν, οἳ Περσίδα γῆν λελόγχασι Hdt.:—absol., πρὸς Θύμβρης ἔλαχον Λύκιοι had their post assigned near Thymbra, Il.
2.of public officers, to obtain an office by lot (v. κύαμος ΙΙ); ἀρχὴν λαχεῖν, opp. to χειροτονηθῆναι (to be elected), Ar.; so, c. inf., ὁ λαχὼν πολεμαρχέειν he who had the lot to be polemarch, Hdt.; οἱ λαχόντες βουλευταί (sc. εἶναι), Oratt.; and absol., οἱ λαχόντες those on whom the lot fell, Thuc.
3.as attic law-term, λαγχάνειν δίκην to obtain leave to bring on a suit, Plat., Oratt.; and (without δίκην) λαγχάνειν τινι to bring an action against one, Oratt.
II.c. gen. partit. to get one's share of, become possessed of, Hom., attic
III.absol. to draw (i. e. obtain) the lot, Od.: cast lots, NTest.
IV.Causal epic redupl. aor. λέλαχον, to put in possession of a thing, πυρὸς λελαχεῖν τινα to grant one the right of funeral fire, Il.
V.intr. to fall to one's lot or share, Od., Eur.
