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1. Dictionary

   dis·pense

   /dəˈspens/

   verb

   • 1. distribute or provide (a service or information) to a number of people: "he dispensed a gentle pat on Claude's back" Similar distributepass aroundpass outhand outdeal outdole outshare outdivide outparcel outallocateallotapportionassignbestowconfersupplydisburseinformal:dish outOpposite collect
   • ▪ (of a machine) supply (a product or cash): "the machines dispense a range of drinks and snacks" Similar preparemake upmixsupplyprovidesell
   • ▪ (of a pharmacist) make up and give out (medicine) according to a doctor's prescription: "he was stopped from dispensing prescriptions"
   • 2. manage without or get rid of: "let's dispense with the formalities, shall we?"
   • ▪ give special exemption from (a law or rule): "the Secretary of State was empowered to dispense with the nationality requirement in individual cases"
   • ▪ grant (someone) an exemption from a religious obligation: "the Pope personally nominated him as bishop, dispensing him from his impediment" Similar exemptexcuseexceptreleaserelievereprieveabsolvegrant someone a dispensationgrant someone an exemptioninformal:let off

   Word Origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin dispensare ‘continue to weigh out or disburse’, from the verb dispendere, based on pendere ‘weigh’.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • D

     2

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

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