DISPENSE


Meaning of DISPENSE in English

I. dispense noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, expense, expenditure, supplies, from Middle French despense, from Medieval Latin dispensa, from feminine of Latin dispensus, past participle of dispendere to weigh out

obsolete : expense , expenditure

II. dis·pense də̇ˈspen(t)s verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English dispensen, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin, & Latin; Medieval Latin dispensare to exempt, pardon, grant a dispensation, from Late Latin, to administer, from Latin, to distribute, from dispensus, past participle of dispendere to weigh out, from dis- dis- (I) + pendere to weigh — more at span

transitive verb

1.

a. : to deal out in portions : distribute , give , provide

dispensing alms among the poor

dispense goodwill with each kindness

b. : administer

dispense the sacraments

dispense justice in his own special way

c. : to deal with : handle

the smaller roles were dispensed by equally capable actors

2. : to give dispensation (as from a vow) : release , exempt

dispense a friend from keeping a promise

in exceptional circumstances the dean of the faculty may … dispense the candidate from the oral examination — Durham University Calendar

3.

a. : to put up (a prescription or medicine)

b. : to prepare and distribute (medicines) to the sick

intransitive verb

1.

a. archaic : to grant permission by exempting one from a law or obligation or the penalty for its infringement or neglect

b. obsolete : permit , allow

2.

a. : to grant or arrange for special exemption from a law or obligation — used with with

asked the king to dispense with statutes that prevented immediate action against the enemy

b. : to set aside or disregard something — used with with

c. : to do without something — used with with

made an analysis of production to see how many men and jobs could be dispensed with

dispense with all formalities and get to the business at hand

3. : to be rid : do away — used with with

trying to dispense with the futile necessity of eating three times a day

the design reduced framing at least 25 percent and dispensed with foundation and wooden sills — Monsanto Magazine

4. obsolete : handle , deal

Synonyms: see distribute

III. dispense noun

( -s )

obsolete : dispensation

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.