Lexic.us

Definition of Dispense

1. Verb. Administer or bestow, as in small portions. "They dispense the people the food"; "The machine dispenses soft drinks"

2. Verb. Grant a dispensation; grant an exemption. "I was dispensed from this terrible task"

3. Verb. Give or apply (medications).

Definition of Dispense

1. v. t. To deal out in portions; to distribute; to give; as, the steward dispenses provisions according directions; Nature dispenses her bounties; to dispense medicines.

2. v. i. To compensate; to make up; to make amends.

3. n. Dispensation; exemption.

4. n. Expense; profusion; outlay.

Definition of Dispense

1. Verb. To issue, distribute, or put out. ¹

2. Verb. To supply or make up a medicine or prescription. ¹

3. Verb. To eliminate or do without–used intransitively with ''with''. ¹

4. Verb. (obsolete) To give a dispensation to (someone) to do something against the law. ¹

5. Noun. (obsolete) Cost, expenditure. ¹

6. Noun. (obsolete) The act of dispensing, dispensation. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Dispense

1. to distribute [v -PENSED, -PENSING, -PENSES] - See also: distribute

Medical Definition of Dispense

1. 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. "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) Origin: F. Dispenser, L. Dispensare, intens. Of dispendere. See Dispend. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Dispense

dispensable dispensableness dispensaries dispensary dispensation dispensational dispensationalism dispensationalist dispensationalists dispensations

dispensative dispensatively dispensatories dispensatorily dispensatory dispense (current term) dispense with dispensed dispenser dispensers

dispenses dispensible dispensing dispensing tablet dispenst dispeople dispeopled dispeopler dispeoplers

Literary usage of Dispense

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. English Synonymes Explained in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1881)
"dispense, from the Latin pendo, to pay or bestow, signifies to bestow in ... dispense is an indiscriminate action ; distribute is a particularizing action: ..."

2. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Edward Aloysius Pace (1922)
"In answer to another which an ordinary cannot dispense, even in the virtue of an induit certain meats are allowed to t ion or exercise of orders in the ..."

3. The Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of England by John Campbell Campbell (1845)
"He maintains the King's absolute power to dispense with all laws. Oct. 31. 1673. Contends that supply should precede consideration of grievances. boldly ..."

4. English Synonyms Explained, in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1818)
"dispense. of truth ; whatever derogates from the dignity of a man in any office is ... dispense, from the Latin pendo, to pay or bestow, signifies to bestow ..."

5. Publications by Scotland Bannatyne Club (Edinburgh, Bannatyne Club (Edinburgh, Scotland) (1854)
"... sufficient portion of that vice of admiration which it is the fashion to quiz, but which I am old-fashioned enough to be very willing to dispense with. ..."

6. The Dictionary of National Biography by Sidney Lee (1908)
"... loyal parliament, asserting that for monarch* to dispense with parliaments was ' to lay aside the staff that supporte them to lean upon a broken reed. ..."

7. United States Supreme Court Reportsby Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1882)
"... disregard of the positive mandate of the law, furnish serious cause for a scire facias to vacate the charter! directors at liberty to dispense with this ..."

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