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Webster 1913 Edition

Dispense

Dis-pense′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Dispensed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispensing
.]
[F.
dispenser
, L.
dispensare
, intens. of
dispendere
. See
Dispend
.]
1.
To deal out in portions; to distribute; to give;
as, the steward
dispenses
provisions according directions; Nature
dispenses
her bounties; to
dispense
medicines.
He is delighted to
dispense
a share of it to all the company.
Sir W. Scott.
2.
To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.
While you
dispense
the laws, and guide the state.
Dryden.
3.
To pay for; to atone for.
[Obs.]
His sin was
dispensed

With gold, whereof it was compensed.
Gower.
4.
To exempt; to excuse; to absolve; – with from.
It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be
dispensed
from parliamentary attendance.
Macaulay.
He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and
dispensed
from all necessity of providing for himself.
Johnson.

Dis-pense′

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To compensate; to make up; to make amends.
[Obs.]
One loving hour
For many years of sorrow can
dispense
.
Spenser.
2.
To give dispensation.
He [the pope] can also
dispense
in all matters of ecclesiastical law.
Addis & Arnold (Cath. Dict. )
To dispense with
.
(a)
To permit the neglect or omission of, as a form, a ceremony, an oath; to suspend the operation of, as a law; to give up, release, or do without, as services, attention, etc.; to forego; to part with
.
(b)
To allow by dispensation; to excuse; to exempt; to grant dispensation to or for.
[Obs.]
“Conniving and dispensing with open and common adultery.”
Milton.
(c)
To break or go back from, as one’s word.
[Obs.]
Richardson.

Dis-pense′

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
dispense
dispensation. See
Dispense
,
Verb.
T.
]
Dispensation; exemption.
[Obs.]

Dis-pense′

,
Noun.
[OF.
despense
, F.
dépense
.]
Expense; profusion; outlay.
[Obs.]
It was a vault built for great
dispense
.
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Dispense

DISPENSE

,
Verb.
T.
dispens. [L., to weigh, primarily to move; and perhaps the original idea of expending was to weigh off, or to distribute by weight.]
1.
To deal or divide out in parts or portions; to distribute. The steward dispenses provisions to every man, according to his directions. The society dispenses medicines to the poor gratuitously or at first cost. God dispenses his favors according to his good pleasure.
2.
To administer; to apply, as laws to particular cases; to distribute justice.
While you dispense the laws and guide the state.
To dispense with,
1.
To permit not to take effect; to neglect or pass by; to suspend the operation or application of something required, established or customary; as, to dispense with the law, in favor of a friend; I cannot dispense with the conditions of the covenant. So we say, to dispense with oaths; to dispense with forms and ceremonies.
2.
To excuse from; to give leave not to do or observe what is required or commanded. The court will dispense with your attendance, or with you compliance.
3.
To permit the want of a thing which is useful or convenient; or in the vulgar phrase, to do without. I can dispense with your services. I can dispense with my cloke. In this application, the phrase has an allusion to the requisitions of law or necessity; the thing dispensed with being supposed, in some degree, necessary or required.
I could not dispense with myself from making a voyage to Caprea. [Not to be imitated.]
Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath? [Not legitimate.]

DISPENSE

,
Noun.
Dispens.
1.
Dispensation. [Not used.]
2.
Expense; profusion. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

dispense

dispense

See also: dispensé

English

Verb

dispense ‎(third-person singular simple present dispenses, present participle dispensing, simple past and past participle dispensed)

  1. To issue, distribute, or put out.
    • Sir Walter Scott
      He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company.
    • 1955, William Golding, The Inheritors, Faber and Faber 2005, p.40:
      The smoky spray seemed to trap whatever light there was and to dispense it subtly.
  2. To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.
    to dispense justice
    • Dryden
      While you dispense the laws, and guide the state.
  3. To supply or make up a medicine or prescription.
    The pharmacist dispensed my tablets.
    An optician can dispense spectacles.
  4. To eliminate or do without; used intransitively with with.
    I wish he would dispense with the pleasantries and get to the point.
  5. (obsolete) To give a dispensation to (someone); to excuse.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.34:
      After his victories, he often gave them the reines to all licenciousnesse, for a while dispencing them from all rules of military discipline […].
    • Macaulay
      It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance.
    • Johnson
      He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself.
  6. (intransitive, obsolete) To compensate; to make up; to make amends.
    • Spenser
      One loving hour / For many years of sorrow can dispense.
    • Gower
      His sin was dispensed / With gold, whereof it was compensed.

Translations

Derived terms

Noun

dispense ‎(plural dispenses)

  1. (obsolete) Cost, expenditure.
  2. (obsolete) The act of dispensing, dispensation.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.xii:
      what euer in this worldly state / Is sweet, and pleasing vnto liuing sense, / Or that may dayntiest fantasie aggrate, / Was poured forth with plentifull dispence [...].

Derived terms

Related terms

French

Noun

dispense f ‎(plural dispenses)

  1. dispensation

Verb

dispense

  1. first-person singular present indicative of dispenser
  2. third-person singular present indicative of dispenser
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of dispenser
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of dispenser
  5. second-person singular imperative of dispenser

Anagrams

Italian

Noun

dispense f

  1. plural of dispensa

Verb

dispense

  1. third-person singular past historic of dispegnere

Anagrams

Portuguese

Verb

dispense

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of dispensar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of dispensar
  3. first-person singular imperative of dispensar
  4. third-person singular imperative of dispensar

Spanish

Verb

dispense

  1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of dispensar.
  2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of dispensar.
  3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of dispensar.
  4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of dispensar.

Etymology

From Old French dispenser, from Latin dispensare ‎(“to weight out, pay out, distribute, regulate, manage, control, dispense”), frequentative of dispendere ‎(“to weight out”), from dis- ‎(“apart”) + pendere ‎(“to weigh”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪsˈpɛns/
  • Rhymes: -ɛns

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