Adjacent Words

Dispensing definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DISPENSING, ppr.
1. Distributing; administering.
2. a. That may dispense with; granting dispensation; that may grant license to omit what is required by law, or to do what the law forbids; as a dispensing power.
DISPEOPLE, v.t. [dis and people.] To depopulate; to empty of inhabitants, as by destruction, expulsion or other means.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.