dispense

Meanings

Verb

• To issue, distribute, or give out.
• To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.
• To supply or make up a medicine or prescription.
• To give a dispensation to (someone); to excuse.
• To compensate; to make up; to make amends.

Noun

• Cost, expenditure.
• The act of dispensing, dispensation.

Origin

• From Middle English, from Old French dispenser, from Latin dispensare ("to weigh out, pay out, distribute, regulate, manage, control, dispense"), frequentative of dispendere, from dis- + pendere.