dispense definition | Dictionary.com

dis⋅pense

[di-spens]

verb, -pensed, -pens⋅ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to deal out; distribute: to dispense wisdom.

2.	to administer: to dispense the law without bias.

3.	Pharmacology. to make up and distribute (medicine), esp. on prescription.

4.	Roman Catholic Church. to grant dispensation.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to grant dispensation.

–noun

6.	Obsolete. expenditure.

—Verb phrase

dispense with,

a.	to do without; forgo: to dispense with preliminaries.

b.	to do away with; rid of.

c.	to grant exemption from a law or promise.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME dispensen < ML dispēnsāre to pardon, exempt, L: to pay out, distribute, equiv. to dis- dis- ¹ + pēnsāre, freq. of pendere to weigh

Synonyms:
1. apportion, allot, dole. See distribute.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To dispense

dis·pense (dĭ-spěns')

v. dis·pensed, dis·pens·ing, dis·pens·es

v. tr.

To deal out in parts or portions; distribute. See Synonyms at distribute.
To prepare and give out (medicines).
To administer (laws, for example).
To exempt or release, as from a duty or religious obligation.

v. intr.
To grant a dispensation or exemption.
Phrasal Verb(s):
dispense with

To manage without; forgo: Let's dispense with the formalities.
To get rid of; do away with: a country that has dispensed with tariff barriers.

[Middle English dispensen, from Old French dispenser, from Latin dispēnsāre, to distribute, frequentative of dispendere, to weigh out : dis-, out; see dis- + pendere, to weigh; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Dispense

Dis*pense"\, v. 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.

Dispense

Dis*pense"\, v. 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.

Dispense

Dis*pense"\, n. [Cf. F. dispense dispensation. See Dispense, v. t.] Dispensation; exemption. [Obs.]

Dispense

Dis*pense"\, n. [OF. despense, F. d['e]pense.] Expense; profusion; outlay. [Obs.]

It was a vault built for great dispense. --Spenser.

Language Translation for : dispense

Spanish: repartir, dispensar,

German: austeilen,

Japanese: 分け与える

More Translations »

dispense

c.1320, from O.Fr. dispenser "give out," from L. dispensare "disburse, administer, distribute (by weight)," freq. of dispendere "pay out," from dis- "out" + pendere "to pay, weigh" (see pendant). In M.L., dispendere was used in the ecclesiastical sense of "grant license to do what is forbidden or omit what is required" (a power of popes, bishops, etc.), and thus acquired a sense of "grant remission from punishment or exemption from law," which led to the Mod.Eng. meaning. Older sense is preserved in dispensary (1699) "place for weighing out medicines," Theological sense is from being used to translate Gk. oikonomoia "office, method of administration." Dispensation is from c.1374.

Main Entry: dis·pense
Pronunciation: dis-'pen(t)s
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: dis·pensed; dis·pens·ing
1 : to put up (a prescription or medicine)
2 : to prepare and distribute (medication)

dispense dis·pense (dĭ-spěns')
v. dis·pensed, dis·pens·ing, dis·pens·es
To prepare and give out medicines.

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