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dispense Definition

dis·pense (di spens′)

transitive verb dispensed -·pensed′, dispensing -·pens′·ing

  1. to give or deal out; distribute
  2. to prepare and give out (medicines, prescriptions, etc.)
  3. to administer to dispense the law justly
  4. to exempt; excuse

Etymology: ME dispensen < OFr despenser < L dispensare, to pay out < pp. of dispendere, to weigh out < dis-, out + pendere, to weigh: see pendant

dispense Idioms

dispense with

  1. to get rid of; do away with
  2. to do without; manage without
dispense Synonyms

dispense

v.

  1. To distribute

    apportion, assign, allocate; see administer 2, distribute 1, give 1.

  2. To administer

    undertake, enforce, direct; see command 2, manage 1. See syn. study at distribute.

dispense Usage Examples

Object

  • justice: Barons will no longer have the right to dispense justice on their lands.
  • medicine: We have about 2800 patients for whom we also dispense medicines.

Preposition: with

  • formality: Now before I warm up I would like to dispense with a few formalities.
  • consent: If they do not consent then the court will be asked to consider whether it is reasonable to dispense with the parents consent.
  • holding: To dispense with the holding of annual general meetings.
  • notion: I'm afraid we can probably dispense with that notion entirely.