verb, -posed, -pos⋅ing, noun | 1. | to give a tendency or inclination to; incline: His temperament disposed him to argue readily with people. |
| 2. | to put in a particular or the proper order or arrangement; adjust by arranging the parts. |
| 3. | to put in a particular or suitable place: The lamp was disposed on a table nearby. |
| 4. | to make fit or ready; prepare: Your words of cheer dispose me for the task. |
| 5. | to arrange or decide matters: to do as God disposes. |
| 6. | Obsolete. to make terms. |
| 7. | Archaic. disposition; habit. |
| 8. | Obsolete. arrangement; regulation; disposal. |
| 9. | dispose of,
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dis·pose (dĭ-spōz') v. dis·posed, dis·pos·ing, dis·pos·es v. tr.
To settle or decide a matter. n. Obsolete
dispose of
[Middle English disposen, from Old French disposer, alteration (influenced by poser, to put, place) of Latin dispōnere, to arrange : dis-, apart; see dis- + pōnere, to put; see apo- in Indo-European roots.] dis·pos'er n. |
dispose of (so)
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dispose of
Attend to, settle, deal with, as in He quickly disposed of the problem. [Early 1600s]
Transfer, part with, as by giving away or selling. For example, They wanted to dispose of the land as soon as possible. [Second half of 1600s]
Get rid of, throw out, as in Can we dispose of the trash in this barrel? Oliver Goldsmith had this idiom in She Stoops to Conquer (1773): "I'm disposing of the husband before I have secured the lover." [Mid-1600s]
Kill or destroy; also, humorously, consume. For example, The king was determined to dispose of his enemies, or John disposed of the cake in no time. [Second half of 1800s]