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dispense - 9 dictionary results
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
—Verb phrase| 6. | Obsolete. expenditure. |
| 7. | dispense with,
|
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
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

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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 grant a dispensation or exemption. Phrasal Verb(s): dispense with
[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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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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : dispense
Spanish:
repartir, dispensar,
German:
austeilen,
Japanese:
分け与える
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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dispense dis·pense (dĭ-spěns')
v. dis·pensed, dis·pens·ing, dis·pens·es
To prepare and give out medicines.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.

