▪ I. dispose, v.
(dɪˈspəʊz)
Also (5 dispoose, dispoyse); 5–6 dys-, 6–7 des-.
[a. OF. dispose-r, rarely desp- (12–13th c. in Hatzf.), f. L. dis-, dis- 1 + poser to place, lay down (see pose, repose); substituted for L. dispōnĕre (which came down in OF. as despondre: see dispone), by form-association with inflexions and derivatives of the latter, as dispos, disposition, etc. Cf. compose, depose.]
I. Transitive senses.
1. To place (things) at proper distances apart and in proper positions with regard to each other, to place suitably, adjust; to place or arrange in a particular order.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 109 (Mätz.) Þe citee..is disposed þat þe water þat falleþ dounward..no fen makeþ and renneþ into cisternes. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §21 The sterres..ben disposed in signis of bestes, or shape like bestes. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI (an. 3) 87 b, Or the Frenchmen had either desposed their garrison, or appoynted their lodgynges. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 257 Directions and precepts, how you should order and dispose your studies. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. viii. 26 Words, well dispost, [rimes ghost, bost, most] Have secrete powre t' appease inflamed rage. 1628 Sir J. Beaumont Bosworth F. 659 This done, these valiant Knights dispose their Blades. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 248 Precepts, which teach vs, to dispose arguments in a Syllogisme. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth Pref., The said Terrestrial Matter is disposed into Strata or Layers. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 412 ¶7 The different Colours of a Picture, when they are well disposed, set off one another. 1777 W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. xxvi, The town is situated on a rising ground and handsomely disposed. 1790 Paley Horæ Paul. i. 7, I have disposed several instances of agreement under separate numbers. 1885 Athenæum 23 May 669/1 Verdurous masses of foliage and sward disposed with great simplicity and breadth. |
b. To put into the proper or suitable place; to put away, stow away, deposit; to put (a number of things) each into the proper place, distribute. Now rare.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. vi. 206 The xxxth day x pounde hony dispose In it wel scommed first, and use it soo. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 7 Seuerall Churches, which are disposed in euery towne & village, according as mans necessitie requireth. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. v. 116 His blowes are wel dispos'd there, Aiax. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 183 The Gold and Silver is lock'd up in Chests, and dispos'd into the Towers of the Castle. Ibid. 256 No man but hath at least two wives, but dispos'd into several huts. 1685 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 356 His majesties standing forces..are disposed into severall parts of this Kingdom. 1725 Pope Odyss. xiii. 87 The chearful mates Safe in the hollow deck dispose the cates. 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales II. 258 A dying lamp was disposed in a niche of the wall. |
† c. gen. To dispose of, deal with in any way.
| 1590 Marlowe 2nd Pt. Tamburl. iv. i, Then bring those Turkish harlots to my tent, And I'll dispose them as it likes me best. |
† d. To place in a particular employment, situation or condition; to assign, appoint. Obs.
| 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 132 A gentleman that hath honest and discreet seruants dysposeth them to the encrease of his segnioryes, one he appointeth stewarde of his courtes, an other ouerseer of his landes. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 190 All the handsome young Damosels..to be dispos'd into his Ladies service. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 768 Ye Gods, to better Fate good Men dispose. |
† 2. To regulate or govern in an orderly way; to order, control, direct, manage, command. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ii. xviii. (1495) 42 Angels..haue vnder theym the ordres of men, and ordeyne and dyspose theym. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (1840) 149 (Mätz.) That Christ Jesus dispoose so the ballaunce, That Petris ship be with no tempest drownyd. 1530 Palsgr. 521/1, I wyll dispose this mater as I shall thynke best. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Hist. i. lxxvii. (1591) 43 Otho..disposed the affaires of the Empire. 1618 Chapman Hesiod's Georg. i. 211 [They] were such great fools at that age [a hundred years] that they Could not themselves dispose a family. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 246 Be it so, since hee Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid What shall be right. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. i. 34 A Regent Principle,..which may govern and dispose it as the Soul of Man doth his Body. |
† 3. To assign or deliver authoritatively. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Luke xxii. 29 And I dispose to ȝou, as my fadir hath disposed to me, a rewme. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. i. 21 And I will dispose a newe testament to the house of Judas. |
† 4. To bestow, make over, hand over; to deal out, dispense, distribute; = dispose of (sense 8). Obs.
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (1840) 20 (Mätz.) The wiche gyfte they goodly han disposed. 1463 Bury Wills (1850) 38 If only come ovir to dispose it in dedys of charite and almesse. 1530 Palsgr. 521/1, I dispose goodes to dyvers folkes, je distribue. 1623 Whitbourne Newfoundland 89 Hauing disposed away such fish and traine oyle as they take there in the Summer time unto merchants. 1679–88 Secr. Serv. Money Chas. II & Jas. II (Camden) 81 To the Bp. of London, to be by him disposed to the poor distressed inhabitants of the city..in respect of the extreme hard weather. 1681 R. Sheldon Let. in Wood Life (1848) 250 Her father hauing sent her two or three [copies] to dispose amongst her friends. 1710 Harley in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 263 The places will be speedily disposed, and the chiefest will fall to the share of the Duchess of Somerset. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 243 The enjoyment during life, and the power of disposing to whatever person and in whatever manner she pleased. |
5. To put into the proper frame or condition for some action or result; to make fit or ready; to fit, prepare (to do, or to or for something); refl. to prepare oneself, get ready, make preparation. arch.
| c 1375 in Rel. Ant. I. 41 It techeth thee how thou schalt dispose the to almaner of goode lyvynge. c 1386 Chaucer Friar's T. 361 Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde The feend. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn li. 196 Blanchardyn..dysposed him self for to retourne ayen toward Tormaday. 1538 Starkey England ii. i. 161 Certayn remedys..wych..schal meruelousely dyspose the partys also to receyue cure and remedy. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 62 Therefore will we dispose our selves to suffer. 1629 A. Baker in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. III. 257 That the prolonging of your daies maie be a meane to dispose you for the better departure, when it shall please God to call you. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 214 He knew For Fruit the grafted Pear-tree to dispose. 1815 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. LXXVII. 513 Those missionaries who are disposing themselves to visit the Syrian churches. 1819 Byron Proph. Dante ii. 43 All things are disposing for thy doom. |
† b. To make suitable, adapt, suit. Obs.
| 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. Induct. Wks. 1856 I. 3, I but dispose my speach to the habit of my part. 1736 Butler Anal. ii. Conclusion 410 Assistance, which nature enables, and disposes and appoints them to afford. |
c. To bring into a particular physical or mental condition: in pa. pple.; see disposed 2, 3.
6. To put into a favourable mood for (something); to give a tendency or inclination to; to incline, make prone (to something, or to do something). a. To incline the mind or heart of; pa. pple. inclined: see disposed 4. Also absol.
| c 1340 [see disposed 4]. c 1430 Stans Puer 4 in Babees Bk. 27 Dispose þou þee aftir my doctryne To all nortur þi corage to encline. 1509 Pater noster, Ave, & Creed (W. de W.) A ij, A ryght profytable treatyse..to dyspose men to be vertuously occupyed in theyr myndes & prayers. 1653 Milton Hirelings Wks. 1738 I. 562 Wherof I promis'd then to speak further, when I should find God disposing me, and opportunity inviting. 1735 Berkeley Def. Free-think. in Math. §7 Wks. 1871 III. 305 Not that I imagine geometry disposeth men to infidelity. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 51 The respectful attachment of the emperor for the orthodox clergy, had disposed him to love and admire the character of Ambrose. 1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. i. 29 Circumstances which could not favourably dispose the Hun to new overtures. |
b. To impart a physical tendency or inclination to; pa. pple. inclined, liable: see disposed 5. Also absol.
| c 1380 [see disposed 5]. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (1840) 197 (Mätz.) Satourn disposith to malencolye. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets drie Dinner F viij, In olde time they ate Lettuse after supper..to dispose them selves to sleepe. a 1682 Sir T. Browne Tracts (1684) 45 The great Mists and Dews..might dispose the Corn unto corruption. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet 291 Such a state disposeth the Humours of the Body to Heat. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 18 Smoke dissolves the gelatine, and disposes the meat to rancidity. |
II. Intransitive senses.
7. To make arrangements; to determine or control the course of affairs or events; to ordain, appoint.
Esp. in proverb Man proposes, (but) God disposes [tr. ‘Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit,’ A Kempis De Imitatione i. xix].
| 1382 Wyclif Acts vii. 44 The tabernacle of witnessing was with oure fadris in desert, as God disposide to hem. 1388 ― Rev. Prol., Therfor God the Fadir..disposid with the Sone and the Hooli Goost to schewen hem, that me dredde hem the lesse. a 1400–50 Alexander 279 Hym..that shall best dispoyse for þe publyke wele. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xix, Ffor man purposiþ & god disposiþ. c 1500 Melusine xxxvi. 265 As the wyse man saith, ‘the fole proposeth & god dyspotheth’. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. V, (an. 8) 70 To dispose for the nedes of the foresaied realme. 1634 Sanderson Serm. II. 302 We have a proverb..‘man purposeth, but God disposeth’. 1718 Prior Power 842 'Tis God who must dispose, and man sustain. |
† b. To settle matters, make terms. Obs.
| 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. xiv. 123 For when she saw..you did suspect She had dispos'd with Cæsar, and that your rage Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was dead. |
8. dispose of (with indirect passive to be disposed of): † a. To make a disposition, ordering, or arrangement of; to do what one will with; to order, control, regulate, manage: = sense 2. spec. in Astrol. (see quot. 1819). Obs.
| 1566 Gascoigne, etc. Jocasta iii. ii. in Child Four Plays (1848) 209 You may of me, as of your selfe dispose. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. lxxiii. 151 From this time forward you may dispose of your selues, and do what you shall think best. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. iii. 49 Enter our Gates, dispose of vs and ours, For we no longer are defensible. 1648 Bury Wills (Camd.) 200 Not time to dispose of theire affaires. 1692 Dryden St. Euremont's Ess. 349 By this, Mistresses dispose of their Old Lovers to their Fancy, and Wives of their Old Husbands. 1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. s.v., A planet disposes of any other which is in its house: thus, if {saturn} were in {sagit} he would be disposed of by {jup}. In horary questions, it is a sign that the thing or person signified by the planet so disposed of, is in the power or interest of the planet (or those whom it signifies) that disposes of it. |
b. To put or get (anything) off one's hands; to put away, stow away, put into a settled state or position; to deal with (a thing) definitely; to get rid of; to get done with, settle, finish. In recent use sometimes spec. to do away with, ‘settle’, or demolish (a claim, argument, opponent, etc.); also humorously, to make away with, consume (food).
| 1610 Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 225 Of the Kings ship, The Marriners, say how thou hast disposd. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 32 The King was..laid in his bed, so would the Ladies have likewise disposed of the Queene. 1666 Pepys Diary 16 Aug., It was so pleasing a sight to see my papers disposed of. 1773 Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. i, I'm disposing of the husband before I have secured the lover. 1841 James Brigand xxvi, Bernard de Rohan must be met and disposed of at the sword's point. 1863 A. J. Horwood Yearbks. 30–31 Edw. I Pref. 10 The very words of the Judges in disposing of the cases are set down. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. iv. 253 Several daughters, who were of course well disposed of in marriage. 1873 Tristram Moab x. 175 The discovery..seems to dispose of the claims of these Dhra'as to be Biblical sites. 1879 F. W. Robinson Coward Consc. ii. vii, Tom disposed rapidly of two glasses of sherry and the..sandwiches. 1885 Sir R. Baggallay in Law Rep. 14 Q. Bench Div. 879 The observations made by the Master of the Rolls sufficiently dispose of that contention. 1885 Manch. Exam. 10 July 5/1 The Northern team, batting first, were disposed of for 192. |
c. To make over or part with by way of sale or bargain, sell.
| 1676 Deed Trin. Coll. in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 521 It shalbe lawfull for..him..to dispose of the said two Chambers..to any other beside his kindred. 1704 Mrs. Ray in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 207, I do intend to dispose of Mr. Ray's books. 1774 Foote Cozeners ii. Wks. 1799 II. 173, I am to be disposed of by private contract. 1843 Borrow Bible in Spain 273 A large edition of the New Testament had been almost entirely disposed of in the very centre of Spain. 1891 Law Times XC. 283/1 The plaintiff was..in possession of two diamond rings which he wished to dispose of. |
† d. To make fit or ready: = sense 5. Obs.
| 1655 Fuller Waltham Abby 13 He..acquainted him with his dying condition, to dispose of his soul for another world. |
† 9. dispose upon or on: to dispose of (see prec. b and c). Sc. Obs.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 166 The lands they..dispose upon to valerous Souldiers. 1639 Drummond of Hawthornden Answ. to Obj. Wks. (1711) 214 To give up the person of their prince, to be disposed on as a stranger nation shall think convenient. 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 67 To use and dispose upon the tymber. 1778 W. Robertsone Let. in J. Russell Haigs xii. (1881) 374 This visit will give you an opportunity to dispose upon oxen; if you have not already done it. |
† 10. dispose with: to dispose of (see 8 c). Obs.
| 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. iv. 8 For his particular he had no power to dispose with any part of the booty. |
▪ II. diˈspose, n. Obs. or arch.
[f. dispose v.]
The action or fact of disposing: in various senses.
† 1. Arrangement, order; = disposition 1. Obs.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 646 He observed in all points a singular order and dispose. |
† 2. The action of ordering; ordinance, appointment; direction, management: = disposal 1. Obs.
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vii. xxxi. §2 (R.), Such is the dispose of the sole disposer of empires, that they have their risings, their fuls, and their fals. 1671 Milton Samson 1746 Oft we doubt What the unsearchable dispose Of Highest Wisdom brings about. |
† 3. Power or right to dispose of something, or deal with it at one's will; control: = disposal 4. Esp. in phr. at (in, etc.) one's dispose (very common 1600–1730). Obs.
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 21 His goods confiscate to the Dukes dispose. 1594 Marlowe & Nashe Dido v. ii, Ye gods, that..order all things at your high dispose. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 325 He was under the dispose of the Generall of the Footemen. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 219 Man is at Gods dispose, and all the other Creatures are at Gods, and mans. 1631 Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 115 Left to the dispose and pleasure of the King. 1690 Dryden Don Sebastian v. Wks. 1883 VII. 450 His life's in my dispose. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 733 To Fate's supreme dispose the dead resign. 1741 Richardson Pamela II. 209 Then you'll have some time at your own Dispose. |
† 4. The action of bestowing, making over, or dealing out; bestowal, distribution: cf. dispose v. 4, disposal 3. Obs.
| 1591 Greene Maiden's Dreame Wks. 1881–3 XIV. 310 No man went emptie from his frank dispose, He was a purse bearer vnto the poore. 1606 Holland Sueton. 261 What he thoght of the last dispose of the Provinces. 1673 Marvell in Collect. Poems 249 Neglecting to call for any Account of the Dispose of the said Treasury. |
† 5. Mental constitution or inclination; frame of mind; = disposition 6. Obs.
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. iii. 174 He.. carries on the streame of his dispose..In will peculiar, and in selfe admission. 1609 Rowlands Knaue of Clubbes 15 Meeting with one iust of his owne dispose, With him he plotted to escape his foes. 1628 Laud Wks. (1847) I. 173 ‘Peace’ stands for a quiet and calm dispose of the hearts of men. |
b. External manner; air; pose. rare.
| 1601 ? Marston Pasquil & Kath. ii. 105 More Musick's in thy name, and sweet dispose, Then in Apollos Lyre, or Orpheus Close. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 403 He hath a person, and a smooth dispose, To be suspected. 1875 Browning Inn Album 21 At the haught highbred bearing and dispose. |