dispense
dispense is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 7 senses, and appears in Roget's Thesaurus (1911) with 40 related terms. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.
Definitions
- 1.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.
- 2.To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.] His sin was dispensed With gold, whereof it was compensed. Gower.
- 3.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.
- 4.To compensate; to make up; to make amends. [Obs.] One loving hour For many years of sorrow can dispense. Spenser.
- 5.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.
- 6.Dispensation; exemption. [Obs.]
- 7.Expense; profusion; outlay. [Obs.] It was a vault built for great dispense. Spenser.
Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
Synonyms
Related terms (Roget's 1911)
- able
- absorbing
- abstain
- abstinence
- administer
- administration
- allocate
- allocation
- allot
- allotment
- allowance
- alone
- appoint
- appointment
- apportion
- apportionment
- appropriate
- appropriation
- aside
- ask
- assign
- assignment
- auction
- auctioneer
- away
- back
- billet
- bring
- call
- cannot
- carve
- case
- cast
- charge
- chose
- claim
- come
- command
- consignment
- contingent
Source: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
Related questions
Reverse-dictionary questions
Definition-first questions whose answer is dispense.
- What is 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 called?
- What is to pay for; to atone for. [Obs.] His sin was dispensed With gold, whereof it was compensed. Gower called?
- What is to compensate; to make up; to make amends. [Obs.] One loving hour For many years of sorrow can dispense. Spenser called?
- What is expense; profusion; outlay. [Obs.] It was a vault built for great dispense. Spenser called?
Sources
- Definitions: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Synonyms: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/word/dispense
- Steward: Jason Burns