dispensation 
5. A relaxation of the law in some particular 
case ; specifically, a license granted (as by the 
pope or a bishop) relieving or exempting a PIT- 
SOU in certain circumstances from the action, 
obligations, or penalties of some law or regu- 
hitiim. Hi,- ecclesiastical laws of the Roman Catholic. 
rlnii, h '^i\e to tin- i>pe the power of granting dispensa- 
tions in certain cases, anil of deputing this power to liisli- 
ops and others. In universities a dispensation IB a per- 
mission to omit some exercise. 
The Jews In general drink no Wine without a Dispen- 
sation. lliitceU, Letters, 1. vi. 14. 
Yet appeals did not cease, and the custom of seeking dig- 
petuatiuiix, faculties, and privileges In matrimonial and 
clerical causes increased. Stubbs, Const. Hist., $ 403. 
The necessity of (HqtraMffcHI arises from the fart that a 
law which is made for the general good may not be bene- 
ficial in this or that special case, and therefore may tie 
rightly relaxed with respect to an individual, while it 
continues to bind the community. Rom. Catli. Diet. 
dispensational (dis-pen-sa'shpn-al), a. [< dis- 
pensation -t- -al.] Of or pertaining to a dispen- 
sation. 
The limits of certain dispensational periods were re- 
vealed in Scripture. MMMkm Sacra, XLV. 237. 
dispensative (dis-pen'sa-tiv), o. [< OF. dis- 
~?. It. 
mttts, pp. 
of dispensare, dispense : see dispense, v.] I. 
T j._r_; / j; -_i* .. j.1 _ij_ 
pcnsatif, F. dixpensatif = Sp. Pg. It. dis]>ensa- 
tirn, < ML. tlixpcnsativus, < L. disjiensatus, pp 
Pertaining to dispensation or the granting of 
dispensations: as, dispensative power. 2f. Dis- 
pensable ; capable of being dispensed with. 
AH poyntes that be disppitsative. 
Ktdt Me ami Be not Wi-olhe (ed. Arber), p. 55. 
dispensatively (dis-pen'sa-tiv-li), adv. By dis- 
pensation. 
I can now hold my place canon ically, which I held '><- 
fore but dispensatively. Sir H. Wotton, Reliquiae, p. 328. 
dispensator (dis'pen-sa-tor), n. [= F. dispen- 
uateur = Pr. Sp. Pg. dispeiisador = It. dispen- 
satore, spensatorc, < L. dispensator, < dispensare, 
pp. dispensatus, dispense: see dispense, v.] A 
dispenser. 
The Holy Spirit Is the great disptnsator of all such 
graces the family needs. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 276. 
dispensatorily (dis-pen'sa-to-ri-li), adv. By 
dispensation; dispensatively. Goodwin. 
dispensatory (dis-pen'sa-to-ri), a. and n. [= 
OF. dixpensatoire = Pg. It. 'dispensatorio, < LL. 
dispensatorius, relating to dispensing or man- 
aging (as a noun, in neut., ML. dispensatorium, 
a distributing pipe for water, NL. a dispensa- 
tory), < L. dispensator, one who dispenses: see 
dispensator.'] I. a. Relating to dispensing; 
having the power to dispense, or grant dispen- 
sations. 
II. ; pi. dispensatories (-riz). A book con- 
taining an account of the substances used as 
medicines, and of their composition, uses, and 
action ; properly, a commentary upon the phar- 
macopoeia. 
The description of the whole oyntment Is to be found 
in the chymicall dispensatory of Crollius. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist., 997. 
I confess, I have not without wonder, and something of 
indignation, seen, even in the puhlick dispensatories, I 
know not how many things ordered to be distilled with 
others in halnen. /;..;</,. Works, II. 126. 
dispensatresst (dis-pen'sa-tres), n. [< disjjen- 
fiiitur + -ess; = F. It. dispensatriee.] A female 
dispenser. 
dispense (dis-pens'), v. ; pret. and pp. dispensed, 
ppr. ilixpi-nsing. [Formerly also dispence; < 
ME. dixpciwcn = D. dispenseren = Q. dispensi- 
ren = Dan. dixpenxere = Sw. dispensera.t OF. 
despenser, despencer, F. dispenser = Pr. Sp. Pg. 
dispensar = It. dixpensare, spensare, < L. dis- 
pensare, weigh out, pay put, distribute, regu- 
late, manage, control, dispense, freq. of dis- 
pendcrc, pp. tlixpensus, weigh out, ML. expend : 
see dixpcnd.] I. trans. 1. To deal or divide 
out; give forth diffusively, or in some general 
way; practise distribution of: as, the sun dis- 
penses heat and light ; to dispense charity, medi- 
cines, etc. 
Abundaunt wyne the north wynde wol dispence 
To vynes sette agayne his influence. 
I'allailiug, Hiisbondric (E. E. T. S.), p. 7. 
Wine can dispense to all both Light and Heat. 
Conyreve, Imit. of Horace. I. ix. '2. 
With balmy sweetness soothe the weary sense, 
And to the sickening soul thy cheering aid dispense. 
Crabbe, Birth of Flattery. 
He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the oom- 
pany. Scott. 
2. To administer ; apply, as laws to particular 
cases; put in force. 
1675 
When Rotten Slates are soundly mended from head to 
foot, proportions duly ad mured, Justice justly dis- 
pensed; then shall Rulers and Subjects have peace with 
I X. H'anl, .Simple Colder, p. 35. 
\Ve liml him . . . scattering among his periods ambigu- 
ous words, whose interpretation he will afterwards dis- 
pence according to his pleasure. 
Miltiin. (Mi Dcf. of Ilnmb. Rcmonst. 
While you dispense the laws and guide the state. 
Dryden. 
3. To relieve; excuse: set free from an obliga- 
tion; exempt; grant dispensation to. 
P. jun. A priest ! 
i 'am. no, he Is dispensed withal. 
B. Jmwon, Staple of News, Hi. 1. 
Longimis disftenses himself from all Investigations of 
this nature, by telling his friend Terentianus that he al- 
ready knows everything that can l>e said upon the que- 
tion. Macaulay, Athenian Orators. 
4f. To atone for; secure pardon or forgiveness 
for. 
His shine was dispensed 
Withgolde. Gower, Conf. Amaut, III. 
= 8yn. 1. Dispense., Distribute, Allot, Apportion, Assign. 
Dispense Is to be distinguished from the others in that it 
expresses an indiscriminate or general giving, while they 
express a particular and personal giving : as, to distribute 
gifts ; to assign the parts in a play, etc. 
The great luminary . . . 
Dispenses light from far. Jllilton, f. L, 111. 579. 
It is but reasonable to suppose that God should call 
men to an account in that capacity ; and to distribute re- 
wards and punishments according to the nature of their 
actions. Stillinffjleet, Sermons, II. iv. 
How distant soever the time of our death may be, since 
It is certain that we must die, it Is necessary to allot some 
portion of our life to consider the end of it. 
Addison, Guardian, No. 18. 
Money was raised by a forced loan, which was appor- 
tioned among the people according to the rate at which 
they had been assessed. Macaulay, Nugent's Hampden. 
How we might best fulfil the work which here 
God hath assiyn'd us. Hilton, V. L., Ix. 231. 
H. intrans. If. To make amends; compen- 
sate. 
One loving howre 
For many yeares of sorrow can dixiicnce. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. 111. 30. 
2t. To bargain for a dispensation; compound. 
Canst tin in dispense with Heaven for such an oath? 
Aa*.,2Hen. VI., v. 1. 
Hence TO dispense with, (a) To permit the neglect, 
disregard, or omission of, as a law, a ceremony, or an oath : 
as, the general dispensed with all formalities. 
He (the pope) hath dispensed with the oath and duty of 
subjects against the fifth commandment. Bp. Andrews. 
Don't yon shudder at such perjury? and this tn a re- 
public, and where there is no religion that dispenses with 
oaths ! H'alpole, Letters, II. 15. 
Sympathizing too little with the popular worship, they 
worship by themselves and dispense with outward forms. 
J. R. Seeley, Nat. Religion, p. 119. 
( '<) To give up the possession or use of ; do without : as, to 
dispense with all but the bare necessaries of life; I can 
dispense with your services. 
He will dispense irith his right to clear Information. 
Jeremy Collier. 
Switzerland has altogether dispensed with the personal 
chief whom both Britain and America have kept In dif- 
ferent shapes. E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 382. 
(ct) To give up the observance or practice of ; do away 
with; disregard. 
I have dispens'd with my attendance on 
The duke, to bid you welcome. 
Shirley, Grateful Servant, I. 2. 
I never knew her dispense with her word but once. 
Richardson. 
(dt) To put up with ; allow ; condone. 
I pray be pleased to dispense with this slowness of mine, 
in answering yours of the first of this present 
Howell, Letters, I. iv. 15. 
About this Time Cardinal Wolsey obtained of Pope Leo 
Authority to dispense with all offences against the Spirit- 
ual Laws. Baker, Chronicles, p. 265. 
Conniving and dispensing with open and common adul- 
tery. Milton. 
(et) To excuse ; exempt ; set free, as from an obligation. 
She [Lady Cutte) would on no occasion dispense with 
herself from paying this duty [private prayer] : no busi- 
ness, no common accident of life, could divert her from It. 
Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, L vl. 
I could not dispense trith myself from making a voyage 
to Caprea. Additon, Travels in Italy. 
(.ft To do or perform: as, to dispense with miracles. 
H'riMr. (y) To dispose of ; consume. 
We had celebrated yesterday with more glasses than we 
could have dispensed with, had we not been beholden to 
Brooke and Hellier. Steele, Spectator, No. 362. 
[The last two are erroneous and unwarrantable uses, 
thoiiL'h still occasionally met with in careless writing.) 
dispense* (dis-pens'). . [Also dispenre; < ME. 
ili.tpi-iixr, ili-xprnsr, also ili)n m-i -. desprnre, < OF. 
i/i x/iense (also despens), F. dispense (> Sw. dis- 
prns) = I'r. ttr.vpensa (also despens) = OSp. des- 
/>i:*<t = I'ir. ilt'x/Mva. ilcs/ie:a = It. dixpenxn. < 
ML. ilix/x-iisii, expense, provision, also a but- 
disperse 
tery, larder, spence (see spencc, which is an 
abtr. of dispense), < L. <lixpi mii-n; pp. dispensus, 
dispend, expend : see dixjivnd. ] 1 . Dispensation. 
For wraththc hath no Coimcience, 
lie makith ech man otherls foo ; 
Ther-wfth he ^etiih his dispence. 
IJymni to I'iiyin, etc. (E. E. T. 8.), p. 63. 
Then rellques, beads, 
Indulgences, diipentes, pardons, bulls. 
The sport of winds. Mitt,i,i. r. I.., iii. 492. 
2. Expense ; expenditure ; profusion. 
Maria, which hail a preeminence 
Aboue alle women, in bedlem whan she lay, 
At cristls byrth, no cloth of gret dispence, 
She wen i! a keuerche. 
Political I'onns, etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 47. 
It was a vaut ybullt for great dispence, 
With many raunges reard along the wall. 
Spenur, V. Q., II. ix. 29. 
3. A larder ; a spence. liable. 
dispenser (dis-pen'ser), n. [< ME. desnenscr, des- 
pcncer,<OF. despensier, despencier, < ML. dispen- 
sarius, manager, steward, < dispensa, provision, 
buttery, larder; cf . equi v. OF. dispcnseor, disjten- 
sour, a steward, < L. dispensator, one who dis- 
penses: see dispensator and dispense, H. Hence 
by apheresis spenser, spencer. In mod. use dis- 
penser is regarded as dispense, r., + -er 1 .] It. 
A manager; a steward. 2. One who dispenses 
or distributes ; one who administers: as, a dis- 
penser of medicines ; a dispenser of gifts or of 
favors ; a dispenser of justice. 
The good and merciful God grant, through the great 
steward and ditpenter of his mercies, Christ the Right- 
eous. Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. ii. 
The drowsy hours, dispensers of all good, 
O'er the mute city stole with folded wings. 
Ti-iiiiiixiin, Gardener's Daughter. 
dispensing (dis-pen'sing), ;). a. 1. Of or per- 
taining to dispensation or the granting of dis- 
pensations ; that may be exercised in relaxing 
the law, or in releasing from some legal obli- 
gation or penalty : as, the dispensing power of 
the pope. 2. That dispenses, deals out, or dis- 
tributes: as, a dispensing chemist or druggist. 
dispeople (dis-pe'pl), r. t. ; pret. and pp. dis- 
peopled, ppr. dispeopling. [< OF. despeupler, F. 
depeupler (= Sp. despoblar = Pg. despotoar), 
var., with prefix des-, of depeupler, depopler, de- 
populer, < L. depopulari, ravage, depopulate : 
see depeople and depopulate.] To depopulate ; 
empty of inhabitants. 
Lest his heart exalt him In the harm 
Already done, to have dispeopled heaven. 
Milton, i'. L., vii. 151. 
France was almost dispeopled. 
Evelyn, Diary, Nov. 3, 1685. 
dispeople! (dis-pe'pler), n. [< dispeople + -cr 1 . 
Cf. Sp. despoblador = Pg. despovoador.] One 
who depopulates; a depopulator; that which 
deprives of inhabitants. 
Thus then with force combln'd, the I.ybian swains 
Have quash'd the stern digjteopler of the plains. 
W. L. Lewis, tr. of Statius's Thebaid, ix. 
disperancet, ". Same as desj>erance. 
disperget (dis-perj'), r. t. [= Pr. disperger = 
It. dispergere, spergerc, < L. dispergere, scatter 
about, disperse : see disperse.] To sprinkle, 
dispermatous (di-sper'ma-tus), a. [< Gr. At-, 
two-, + airipita(T-), seed, -t- -ous.] Same as di- 
spermous. Thomas. 
dispermous (di-sper'mus), a. [< Gr. &-, two-, + 
otreppa, seed, + -pus.'] In bot., containing only 
two seeds : applied to fruits and their cells, 
disperplet (dis-per'pl), r. Same as disparpte. 
dispersal (dis-per'sal), n. [< disperse + -a/.] 
Dispersion. 
In several places Republican meetings were frightened 
into dispersal by an aggressive display of force. 
G. 5. Merriam, S. Bowles, II. 279. 
disperse (dis-pers'), r.; pret. and pp. dispersed, 
ppr. dispersing. [< F. disperser = Sp. Pg. dis- 
persar, < L. dispersus, pp. of dispergere, scatter 
abroad, disperse, < dis-, di-, apart, + spargere, 
pp. sparsiis, scatter: see sparse.] I. trans. 1. 
To scatter; separate and send off or drive in 
different directions ; cause to separate in dif- 
ferent directions : as, to disperse a crowd. 
Two lions In the still dark night 
A herd of beeves disperse. Chapman. 
And now all things on Imth sides prepar'd, the .Spanish 
Navy set forth out of the Groyne in May, but were dis- 
pers'd and driven back by Weather. 
Baiter, Chronicles, p. 375. 
Her feet disperse the powdery snow, 
That rises up like smoke. 
Wordsworth, Lucy Gray. 
2f. To distribute ; dispense. 
Being a king that loved wealth, he could not endure to 
lia\e trade sick, nor any obstruction to continue in the 
gate vein which difpcrseth that blood. Bacon. 
