C17: from Medieval Latin allocāre, from Latin locāre to place, from locus a place
Word Origin and History for allocate
v.
1630s, from verbal used of adjective allocate (mid-15c. in legal use), from Medieval Latin allocate (the common first word of writs authorizing payment), imperative plural of allocare "allocate," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + locare "to place" (see locate). Related: Allocated; allocating.