ˈdispenˌsator Now rare.
Also 4 -owr, 4–6 -our, 6 -er, Sc. -ure.
[a. AF. dispensatour = OF. dispensateur, -tur (12th c. in Littré), ad. L. dispensātōrem, agent-n. from dispensāre to dispense. Orig. stressed on final, which would have given mod. Eng. diˈspensator; but conformation to L. gave dispenˈsator, exemplified in 17th c. and in Johnson, Walker, Craig 1847; Smart 1849 has ˈdispenˌsator.]
One who dispenses; a dispenser; a distributor.
| 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. xiii. 35 Gode hede wold be taken that the dyspensatours and vitaillers of the oost be not theuys. 1491 ― Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) ii. 253 b/2 As a gode & trewe dyspensatour & dystrybutour to the poore people of the goodes of thy fader. 1549 Compl. Scot. xix. 158 God hes ordand the to be ane dispensatour of his gyftis amang the ignorant pepil. 1582 J. Hester Secr. Phiorav. i. xlviii. 59 The Liuer beeyng dispensator bothe of the good and bad qualities of the humours. 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 180 The ancient Romans (who were such equal dispensators of Glory). a 1859 L. Hunt Shewe Faire seeming v. Wks. (1860) 178 Much the stage he lov'd, and wise theatre, Counting it as a church, in which the page Of vertuous verse found the sole dispensator. |
† b. A steward who administers the goods, etc. of another. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Gen. xliii. 16 He comaundide to the dispensatowr [1388 dispendere] of his hows, seiynge, Lede yn the men hoom. c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. xix. 409 The richessis of chirchis ben patrimonies of poor men..the mynystris..ben dispensatouris ther of. 1553 Becon Reliques of Rome (1563) 155 The chamberlaynes and dispensatoures or stewardes of the mysteryes of God. 1621–51 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. iv. ii. iii, Out of that treasure of indulgences and merits of which the pope is dispensator, he may have free pardon and plenary remission of all his sins. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Dispensator, a Steward, or Officer that laies out money for an houshold. 1698 Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 341 They are but Stewards and Dispensatours in respect of God. [1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. V. xxii. 25 Azor the ‘dispensator’ had received his land again from King William.] |
† c. An almoner. Obs.
| 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 222 The kings dispensator or almoner. |
d. An administrator.
| c 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems 31/1 The sun in triumph rides..Time's dispensator, fair life-giving source. 1688 Lady Russell Lett. II. lxxix. 4 May the great Dispensator of all these wonderful events dispose our hearts and minds. 1802 Hatred III. 95 Providence, the supreme dispensator of events. |
Hence ˌdispenˈsatorship.
| 1637 R. Humfrey St. Ambrose ii. 36 [He] that beareth rule in some office, as in the office of the ministery, all dispensatorship. |