▪ I. diˈspense, n.1
Forms: 4–5 (7) despens(e, 4–8 dispense, 4–7 dis-, 5 6 dyspence.
[In I., a. OF. despense act of spending, ad. late L. dispensa, n. from pa. pple. of dispendĕre to dispend; prob. blending with OF. despens:—L. dispensum that which is expended. In II. prob. an Eng. deriv. of the vb. in the cognate sense.]
I. † 1. Obs. a. The act of spending, expenditure.
| c 1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 330 Your travail and your despens. 1340 Ayenb. 21 Huanne he deþ to moche despense oþer of his oȝen oþer of oþre manne. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 441 He was but esy in dispence. c 1400 Rom. Rose 1141 Alle his purpos..Was for to make gret dispense. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxix. 283 Huon gaue hym..money for his dyspence. 1613 William I in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 154 With great dispence, both of their estates and blood. 1664 Pepys Diary (1879) III. 41 [They] are not sufficient to supply our dispense if a warr comes. |
b. pl. Expenses, charges, costs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 20 Costlewe housis and greet dispensis. 1416 Comp. Subs. in Rel. Ant. I. 232 The somme..in clere, without colectours dispencis. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. v. (1885) 119 Thai most serue hym..at thair owne dispenses. 1718 Byrom Jrnl. & Lit. Rem. (1854) I. i. 36 With these and other dispenses..I am just as I was before I drew upon you last. |
c. Means of meeting expenditure, money to spend or use; means of support; supplies.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Chron. xxii. 5 Beforn his death he made redy alle the dispensis. c 1430 Hymns Virg. 63 Wraþþe haþ no Conscience, He makiþ ech man oþeris foo; Þer⁓with he getiþ his dispence. a 1510 Douglas King Hart ii. 443 Thai wantit thame dispence, Ewill purvayit folk. 1652 F. Kirkman Clerio & Lozia 123 Which might furnish me with so many amorous dispences as these..beauties make by their so long sojourn at my heart. |
† 2. The act of dispensing or bestowing liberally. Obs.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 42 Whatever..Is sweete..Was poured forth with plentifull dispence. 1596 ― F.Q. v. xi. 45 Dealing his dreadfull blowes with large dispence. |
3. † a. A place where provisions are kept; a store-room, pantry, or cellar; = spence. [Fr. despence, a larder, storehouse, gardemanger (Cotgr.)] Obs.
| 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. i. 237 He went to the Dispense for wine. Ibid. ii. 348 In a little Dispense, or Pantrie. Ibid. ii. 351. |
b. In full dispense bar. A bar in a club or hotel for the use of staff.
| 1934 ‘C. L. Anthony’ Touch Wood i. 27 A bar! They called it the dispense bar. 1961 Daily Tel. 7 Apr. 25 At the club..no intoxicating drinks were to be supplied after 2 a.m., when the bar and dispense were closed. |
II. † 4. = dispensation 8. Obs.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xii. 46 [Elysse] leuynge by dyspense abstractyue her first vowes of chastyte promysed. 1578 Gude & G. Ball., Huntis vp 153 That cruell beist, he neuer ceist..Under dispens to get our penneis Our saulis to deuoir. 1631 Heywood 2nd Pt. Fair Maid of W. v. Wks. 1874 II. 411 My honesty, faith, and religion, are all ingag'd; there's no dispence for them. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 492 Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls. 1777 W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. cxi, It is necessary for every knight who [marries] to get a dispense for his vow. |
▪ II. † diˈspense, n.2 Obs.
[deriv. of L. dēpendĕre (see depend v. 7) with dis- for de- (cf. de- I. 6), perh. of AFr. origin Godef. has OF. despens for depens, and the same change of prefix is found in other OF. derivatives of dépendre.]
A state of uncertainty; an undetermined condition; suspense.
| 1562 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 294 Mr. Tilcocke..shall stand in dispence for his submyssion for his offence untyll the ffeast of Christmas. 1583 Rich Phylotus & Emelia (1835) 23 If there be any thyng that hanges in dispence betweene vs. 1647–8 Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 33 The absense of the Princes held the King and all his Ministers in great dispense. |
▪ III. dispense, v.
(dɪˈspɛns)
Also 4–6 des-, 5–6 dys-; 5–8 dispence.
[ME. a. OF. de-, dispenser (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) = Pr., Sp. despensar, It. dispensare, ad. L. dispensāre (freq. of dispendĕre to dispend: cf. pensāre to weigh out); in class. L. to distribute by weight, to weigh out, disburse; to administer as steward, to dispose, arrange; in med.L. to arrange or deal administratively with a person in reference to the requirements of an ecclesiastical canon or law.]
I. from L. dispensāre in classical senses.
1. trans. To mete out, deal out, distribute; to bestow in portions or from a general stock.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. vi. 139 (Camb. MS.) Despensynge and ordeynynge Meedes to goode men, and torment to wykked men. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 172 Abundaunt wyne the north wynde wol dispence To vynes sette agayne his influence. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 28 b, Some we must vse, dispence and expende, and truly distribute. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets drie Dinner A a ij, I assume the Carvers office: and..dispense to every of my Guests according to the Season, his Age and Constitution. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 20/2 He might dispense favours and disfavours according to his own election. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 157 Now gentle gales..dispense Native perfumes. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) II. 99 Those Pipes which dispens'd the Heat. 1781 Cowper Convers. 1 Though Nature weigh our talents, and dispense To every man his modicum of sense. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 81 Several commissioners..had been appointed to dispense the public alms. |
† b. To spend (time, talents): both in the sense of expending profitably and of wasting. Obs.
| c 1624 Chapman Batrachom. 13 Who with his wreake dispenst No point of Tyme. 1638 Rouse Heav. Univ. x. (1702) 147 As every man hath received the Gift so let him exercise and dispense it. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Rich. II, cccxxviii, Affliction Is the best Mistresse to dispence our Time. |
2. To administer (e.g. a sacrament, justice, etc.).
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ii. ii (1495) 30 An angel dispensyth thynges that ben abowte vs. 1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 46 The sacrament that we han to dispensen off penaunce to the peple. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 65 It is nocht ye office of euerie man..to consecrat, dispens, and minister ye sacraments. 1616 R. C. Times' Whistle iv. 1517 You, which should true equity dispense. a 1656 Bp. Hall Serm. Canticles ix. (R.), That power..is dispensed and executed by some prime ministers. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. 110 Shall we say..that this whole Universe is dispensed ond ordered, by a mere Irrational..and Fortuitous Principle? 1894 Law Times 387/2 Sir Richard Malins..dispensed a home-brewed equity of his own. |
b. absol.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. pr. vi. 109 (Camb. MS.) In the which thing I trowe þat god dispensith. a 1633 Austin Medit. 106 Lest hee should not dispense, and governe well. |
3. Med. To make up (medicine) according to a prescribed formula; to put up (a prescription).
| 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) A iij, Some [physitions] were not diligent inough in beholdynge their drouges or ingredience at all tymes dispensid and tried. 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 310, I dispence and administer all [drugs] by Haber-de-pois. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 586 That..the apothecary dispense his recipes properly. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 594 Swallow the two grand nostrums they dispense—That Scripture lies, and blasphemy is sense. 1883 Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v. Dispensary, The place where medicines are prepared and given out, or dispensed. |
II. from med.L. dispensāre in eccles. use.
[In later med.L. (by 1200 or earlier) dispensāre was used absol. or intrans. (= agere dispensatorie or dispensative), in the sense ‘to make an arrangement in the character of a steward (οἰκονόµος), administrator, or manager, to deal administratively,’ especially in reference to the practical application of a law or rule to a particular case; first, apparently, in the way of relaxing a punishment or penance, which, according to strict law, had been already incurred, but in the particular case ought to be remitted for special reasons; thence, in the remission of a punishment not yet incurred, which amounted in fact to a licence to break the legal rule; and thus, in the general sense of granting relaxation, exemption, indulgence, etc. The chief constructions were dispensare in tali casu, circa jus, circa aliquem or aliquid, and esp. cum aliquo (ut possit), etc. (to dispense in such a case, in reference to a certain law, or a certain person or matter, with a person that he may do something, etc.). (Prof. F. W. Maitland, LL.D.)
These intrans. uses passed into English, esp. dispense with, which became a combined verbal phrase, with indirect passive, to be dispensed with, and has had a wide development of sense: see branch III. By elision of the preposition or other processes, the verb has also become trans. in the sense ‘to grant dispensation to, for, or from.’ Transitive senses are found also in French from 15th c.]
4. intr. To deal dispensatorily, to use dispensatory power; to grant dispensation or relaxation of the strict letter of the law in a special case; to make a special arrangement (with any one) whereby the penalty of a law is remitted in his case. a. simply, or with in. (Orig. in reference to ecclesiastical law; said also of a king's dispensing power.)
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 122/2 Dyspenson, be auctoryte, of penawnce, dispenso. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 40 When he dispenseth he sheweth the case whereon he dispenseth to be contained under the meaning of the law. 1563 Winȝet Four Scoir Thre Quest. lxxx. Wks. 1888 I. 128 Quhat pouer haif ȝe to dispence mair in the ane nor in the wthir? 1688 Sir E. Herbert Hales' Case 29 There is the same Disability in the Case of Sheriffs, and yet resolved that the King can Dispense in that Case. 1810–16 C. O'Conor Columbanus ad Hibernos vii. 62 It asserted..that the Pope could not dispense in the allegiance due by Catholics to their Sovereigns. 1833 R. H. Froude Rem. (1838) I. 307 In case he could not dispense..at any rate the acts of one Council might be rescinded by another. |
† b. with clause, expressing purpose or end. Obs.
| c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 133 He cannot dispense that a man should keep a concubine, or that a king having a barren wife may marry again. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. xxv. (1647) 212 The Pope would not dispense that Princes should hold pluralitie of temporall Dominions. |
c. with with. The earliest construction exemplified (in Wyclif c 1380), and also the most important: see dispense with, III below.
† d. with against. To relax a law or its penalty in opposition to (some authority); to give dispensation, indulgence, or permission, in opposition to (some law). Obs.
| c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 133 Of set purpose spoken to intimate that the Pope cannot dispense against that chapter. Ibid. 146 He saith the Pope may dispense against the Apostles' order, as in bigamie, yet not against God's own law. 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 185 b, Yea the same gloser..sayth: The Pope if he will, may dispence agaynst the Councell. For he is more than the Councell. |
† 5. trans. To relax the law in reference to (some thing or person). a. To remit or permit (a thing which is forbidden by the strict letter of the law); to remit or relax the penalty for (an offence); to condone. Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 365 His sinne was dispensed With golde, wherof it was compensed. c 1540 in Fisher's Wks. (E.E.T.S.) II. p. xlii, In this Bull the maryage with Prince Henrie was dispenced, for that the ladie was before maryed to his brother prince Arthur. 1566 Pasquine in a Traunce 108 The Pope, dispensing all things for money. 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 48 Our holy father hath dispenst his sinnes. |
† b. To permit (a person) to do something contrary to the general law; to permit by dispensation. Obs.
| 1511–2 Act 3 Hen. VIII, c. 1. Preamble, No person shuld carie..out of this Realme..Bullion..but suche persons as be desspensed within the Statute. 1605 Camden Rem. (1637) 127 Hugh..was dispensed by the Pope to marrie. |
† c. absol. To permit, allow, give dispensation.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. To Rdr. A iij a, Would Truth dispense, we could be content with Plato, that knowledge were but Remembrance. |
6. trans. To dissolve, relax, or release by dispensation. † a. To relax or dissolve the obligation of (a vow, oath, or the like) by ecclesiastical authority. Obs.
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 619/2 The churche hathe synce..dispensed and vndone the bonde. 1632 Massinger City Madam v. iii, Thy holy vow dispensed. 1640 R. Brathwait Two Lanc. Lovers 235 Those vowes..could not so easily be dispenced. |
b. To give (a person) dispensation from something; to release from († of) an obligation; to exempt, excuse.
| 1627 Lisander & Cal. iv. 58 Beleeving that hee was dispensed of his promise. 1639 T. Brugis tr. Camus' Moral Relat. 345 [He] entreated his Highnes to dispense him from swearing that hee should no more love Goland. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxxi. 122 The Subject I now treat of dispences me to speak of all. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. Pref. (1721) I. 91 Extraordinary Genius's have a sort of Prerogative, which may dispense them from Laws, binding to Subject-Wits. 1744 Johnson L.P., Savage Wks. III. 366 He appeared to think himself..dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself. a 1822 Shelley Ess. &c. (1852) I. 226 This materialism..allows its disciples to talk, and dispenses them from thinking. 1851 J. H. Newman Cath. Eng. 173 Who was to dispense them from their oath? |
| absol. 1768 Woman of Honor II. 50 That dispenses from all panegiric. |
† 7. To do without, to forgo; = dispense with: see 14. Obs.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. vi. 235 As he as swyfte to be yit I dispence. 1580 Sidney Arcadia (1674) 122 (D.) Images of battels and fortifications being then delivered to their memory, which after, their stronger judgements might dispence. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lix. (1739) 110 His right of investiture of the Mitred Clergy he dispensed. |
† 8. intr. To make amends or compensation for. Obs. rare. (Cf. 1393 in 5 a.)
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. iii. 30 One loving howre For many yeares of sorrow can dispence. |
III. dispense with.
[Orig. the chief construction of the intrans. sense 4, = med.L. dispensare cum (see note under II); which has become a verbal combination, with indirect passive to be dispensed with, and extensive development of sense.]
* to dispense with a person.
† 9. To arrange administratively with (a person), so as to grant him relaxation or remission of penalty incurred by breach of law, or special exemption or release from a law or obligation; to let off from doing something; to exempt, excuse. refl. To excuse oneself, refrain or abstain from.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 390 Her-to þai ben bounden..And þer may no man dispense with hem of þat boonde. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 109 Whan his fader was ded, the Pope dispensid with him [a monk] and made him wedde the doutir of Charles. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 299 To gether money..he had lycence of pope Innocent..to dispence with such as hym lykyd..for takynge vpon them the crosse. 1549 Latimer 2nd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 57 God had dispensed wyth theym to haue manye wyues. 1606 Holland Sueton. 104 He dispensed with a gentleman of Rome for his oath..never to divorce his wife, and gave him leave to put her away. 1705 Addison Italy 251, I could not dispense with my self from making a little Voyage. 1728 T. Sheridan Persius Ded. (1739) 6, I hope I shall be dispensed with, for studying Easiness of Style, rather than Elegance. 1775 in Mad. D'Arblay's Early Diary (1889) II. 52, I cannot dispense with myself from giving you..my whole sentiments. |
† b. transf. To make an arrangement or compound with, for an offence, etc. Obs. rare.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 117 These Gualo reserved to his awne auchtoritie, and in the ende for great summes of money [he] dispensed with them. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. i. 181 Canst thou dispense with heauen for such an oath? 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 126 They [were] dispensed with for a Garrison, and the Forfeit of an hundred and fifty thousand Rix-dollars. |
** to dispense with a rule, obligation, requirement, etc.
10. To deal administratively with (a law or rule, ecclesiastical or civil) so as to relax or remit its penalty or obligation in a special case; to give special exemption or relief from.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 511 Þe pope may dispence wiþ þe reule of ech privat secte or religioun..but he may not dispense wiþ Cristis reule ȝoven to apostlis. 1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 35 When ye prayed him to dispense with the hardnesse of your order. 1500–20 Dunbar Fenᵹeit Freir 54 He had dispensit with matynnis channoun. 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 103 Thys ys a grete faute..any one man to have such authoryte to dyspense wyth the commyn lawys. a 1626 Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law v. (1636) 26 Necessity dispenseth with the direct letter of a statute law. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 12 Either House of Parliament might dispense with their own orders, whenever they thought fit. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) III. xiv. 61 It was agreed..that the king could not dispense with the common law. 1862 Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. xvi. 247 The right of the King to dispense with penal statutes. |
11. To relax the obligation of (a vow, oath, promise, or the like); to dissolve, in a special case, the binding force of (an oath, etc.).
| 1530 Tindale Pract. Prelates, Deuorcement H vij b, If this maryage be of God the pope can not dispence with it. 1593 Nashe Christ's T. 15 b, His humour was pacified, his oth was dispenst with. a 1618 Raleigh (J.), How few kingdoms are there, wherein, by dispensing with oaths, absolving subjects from allegiance..the popes have not wrought innumerable mischiefs. 1692 Washington tr. Milton's Def. Pop. iv. (1851) 126 There needs no Pope to dispense with the Peoples Oath. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. vii. 117 The king's vow of pilgrimage was dispensed with. 1883 Froude in Contemp. Rev. XLIV. 13 A safe-conduct had not saved Huss, and Popes could dispense with promises. |
† 12. To set aside the obligation, observance, or practice of (any duty, etc.); to disregard. Obs.
| 1559 Mirr. Mag., Warwick vi, With his fayth he past not to dispence. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 47 Hang the trifle (woman) take the honour: what is it? dispence with trifles: what is it? 1607 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 85 To resume that duty which I have so long dispensed with. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 125 It seems that..men may dispense with their faith or word given, even upon meer doubts. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) VII. 310, I never knew her dispense with her word, but once. |
13. To do away with (a requirement, need, or necessity); to render unnecessary or superfluous.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 255 [A Translation] short also, and not tedious, which dispenseth with all maner of cares and businesse. 1625 Bacon Ess., Ambition (Arb.) 225 The Vse of their Seruice dispenseth with the rest. 1729 Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. 111 Guilt or injury..does not dispense with or supersede the duty of love and good-will. 1875 F. Hall in Lippincott's Mag. XV. 341/1 Familiar facts dispense with all need to draw on the imagination. 1892 Law Times XCIV. 104/1 The possession given on the marriage day..dispensed with the necessity of a writing. |
14. To excuse or put up with the absence or want of (a thing or person); to forgo, do without. (The opposite of 16.)
| 1607 Shakes. Timon iii. ii. 93 Men must learne now with pitty to dispence. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §3 At the sight of a Crosse or Crucifix I can dispense with my hat, but scarse with the thought or memory of my Saviour. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 325 Won't you, Sir, dispense with me, on this Occasion? 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge xii, Let us dispense with compliments. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 68 No genius can dispense with experience. 1874 Green Short. Hist. ii. §8. 105 Resources which enabled him to dispense with the military support of his tenants. |
*** to dispense with a breach of law, fault, offence, objectionable matter, etc.
† 15. To deal with (a breach of law) so as to condone it; to grant a dispensation for (something illegal or irregular); to permit, allow, or condone by dispensation; to excuse, pardon. Obs.
| 1540–54 Croke Ps. (Percy Soc.) 8 Vppon me then thou wolt take ruthe, And with my faults clerely dispense. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII (an. 1) 2 The whiche mariage was dispensed with by Pope July, at the request of her father. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 134 In such kind of marriages with which it hath not been wont to be dispensed, the children cannot prosper. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 135 Nature dispenses with the deede so farre, That it becomes a vertue. 1651 Life Father Sarpi (1676) 45 The Reader will be pleased to dispense with this little digression. 1716 Addison Freeholder No. 43 (Seager) His religion dispenses with the violation of the most sacred engagements. |
† 16. To deal with indulgently; to manage with; to do with, put up with. Obs. (The exact opposite of 14: see quot. 1796.)
| 1580 Sidney Arcadia v. (1590) 451, I would and could dispence with these difficulties. 1660 Wood Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) I. 366 Though they lately hated a square cap, yet now they could dispense with one. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 158 Yea, [they] can dispense with Hogs flesh and account it a dainty. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 130 Some Trades require a deeper, others may dispence with a shallower Shop. 1755 Colman & Thornton in Connoisseur No. 91 ¶5 My pantry is stored with more provisions than we can dispense with. 1796 Pegge Anonym. (1809) 460, I can dispense with it, i.e. I can do with it; and, I can dispense with it, i.e. I can do without it. |