dispense

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To give out or distribute something to people.

   The machine dispenses hot drinks at the press of a button.

2. 2
   verb

   To prepare and give out medicine.

   The pharmacist dispensed my tablets within minutes.

3. 3
   verb

   To manage or carry out something, such as justice.

   The court exists to dispense justice fairly to everyone.

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

Topics