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