a. [ LL. dispensabilis. See Dispense. ] 1. Capable of being dispensed or administered. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being dispensed with. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being dispensable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Dispensaries [ Cf. F. dispensaire. ] 1. A place where medicines are prepared and dispensed; esp., a place where the poor can obtain medical advice and medicines gratuitously or at a nominal price. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A dispensatory. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. dispensation, L. dispensatio. ] 1. The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution; often used of the distribution of good and evil by God to man, or more generically, of the acts and modes of his administration. [ 1913 Webster ]

To respect the dispensations of Providence. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is dispensed, dealt out, or appointed; that which is enjoined or bestowed; especially (Theol.), A system of principles, promises, and rules ordained and administered; scheme; economy; as, the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither are God's methods or intentions different in his dispensations to each private man. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The relaxation of a law in a particular case; permission to do something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined; specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, exemption from some ecclesiastical law or obligation to God which a man has incurred of his own free will (oaths, vows, etc.). [ 1913 Webster ]

A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr. Barrow to marry. Ward. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. dispensatif. ] Granting dispensation. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By dispensation. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A distributer; a dispenser. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the way of dispensation; dispensatively. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. dispensatorius relating to management. See Dispense, v. t. ] Granting, or authorized to grant, dispensations. “Dispensatory power.” Bp. Rainbow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Dispensatories A book or medicinal formulary containing a systematic description of drugs, and of preparations made from them. It is usually, but not always, distinguished from a pharmacopœia in that it issued by private parties, and not by an official body or by government. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dispensed p. pr. & vb. n. Dispensing. ] [ F. dispenser, L. dispensare, intens. of dispendere. See Dispend. ] 1. To deal out in portions; to distribute; to give; as, the steward dispenses provisions according directions; Nature dispenses her bounties; to dispense medicines. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct. [ 1913 Webster ]

While you dispense the laws, and guide the state. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To pay for; to atone for. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His sin was dispensed
With gold, whereof it was compensed. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To exempt; to excuse; to absolve; -- with from. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To compensate; to make up; to make amends. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

One loving hour
For many years of sorrow can dispense. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give dispensation. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ the pope ] can also dispense in all matters of ecclesiastical law. Addis & Arnold (Cath. Dict. ) [ 1913 Webster ]

To dispense with. (a) To permit the neglect or omission of, as a form, a ceremony, an oath; to suspend the operation of, as a law; to give up, release, or do without, as services, attention, etc.; to forego; to part with. (b) To allow by dispensation; to excuse; to exempt; to grant dispensation to or for. [ Obs. ] “Conniving and dispensing with open and common adultery.” Milton. (c) To break or go back from, as one's word. [ Obs. ] Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. dispense dispensation. See Dispense, v. t. ] Dispensation; exemption. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. despense, F. dépense. ] Expense; profusion; outlay. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It was a vault built for great dispense. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. distributed or weighed out in carefully determined portions; as, medicines dispensed to the sick. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who, or that which, dispenses; a distributer; as, a dispenser of favors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. indispensabilité. ] Indispensableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + dispensable: cf. F. indispensable. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not dispensable; impossible to be omitted, remitted, or spared; absolutely necessary or requisite. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) Not admitting dispensation; not subject to release or exemption. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The law was moral and indispensable. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Unavoidable; inevitable. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being indispensable, or absolutely necessary. S. Clarke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an indispensable manner. “Indispensably necessary.” Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Misspense. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A spending improperly; a wasting. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the English poet Spenser; -- specifically applied to the stanza used in his poem “The Faërie Queene.” [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. LL. suspensatio suspension from a charge or benefice. ] The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended, especially for a short time; temporary suspension. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. suspens, L. suspensus, p. p. of suspendere. See Suspend. ] 1. Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The great light of day ] suspense in heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt. [ Obs. ] “Expectation held his look suspense.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From F. suspens, a. See Suspense, a. ] 1. The state of being suspended; specifically, a state of uncertainty and expectation, with anxiety or apprehension; indetermination; indecision; as, the suspense of a person waiting for the verdict of a jury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten days the prophet in suspense remained. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon the ticklish balance of suspense. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cessation for a time; stop; pause. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cool suspense from pleasure and from pain. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Cf. F. suspense. ] (Law) A temporary cessation of one's right; suspension, as when the rent or other profits of land cease by unity of possession of land and rent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Suspense account (Bookkeeping), an account in which receipts or disbursements are temporarily entered until their proper position in the books is determined. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In suspense. [ Obs. ] Hales. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being suspensible. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being suspended; capable of being held from sinking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. suspension, L. suspensio arched work, imperfect pronunciation. See Suspend. ] 1. The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended; pendency; as, suspension from a hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Especially, temporary delay, interruption, or cessation; as: (a) Of labor, study, pain, etc. (b) Of decision, determination, judgment, etc.; as, to ask a suspension of judgment or opinion in view of evidence to be produced. (c) Of the payment of what is due; as, the suspension of a mercantile firm or of a bank. (d) Of punishment, or sentence of punishment. (e) Of a person in respect of the exercise of his office, powers, prerogative, etc.; as, the suspension of a student or of a clergyman. (f) Of the action or execution of law, etc.; as, the suspension of the habeas corpus act. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A conditional withholding, interruption, or delay; as, the suspension of a payment on the performance of a condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of a solid when its particles are mixed with, but undissolved in, a fluid, and are capable of separation by straining; also, any substance in this state. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Rhet.) A keeping of the hearer in doubt and in attentive expectation of what is to follow, or of what is to be the inference or conclusion from the arguments or observations employed. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Scots Law) A stay or postponement of execution of a sentence condemnatory by means of letters of suspension granted on application to the lord ordinary. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mus.) The prolongation of one or more tones of a chord into the chord which follows, thus producing a momentary discord, suspending the concord which the ear expects. Cf. Retardation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pleas in suspension (Law), pleas which temporarily abate or suspend a suit. --
Points of suspension (Mech.), the points, as in the axis or beam of a balance, at which the weights act, or from which they are suspended. --
Suspension bridge, a bridge supported by chains, ropes, or wires, which usually pass over high piers or columns at each end, and are secured in the ground beyond. --
Suspension of arms (Mil.), a short truce or cessation of operations agreed on by the commanders of contending armies, as for burying the dead, making proposal for surrender or for peace, etc. --
Suspension scale, a scale in which the platform hangs suspended from the weighing apparatus instead of resting upon it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Delay; interruption; intermission; stop. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. suspensif. See Suspend. ] Tending to suspend, or to keep in suspense; causing interruption or delay; uncertain; doubtful. “In suspensive thoughts.” Beaumont. “A suspensive veto.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The provisional and suspensive attitude. J. Morley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Suspensive condition (Scots Law), a condition precedent, or a condition without the performance of which the contract can not be completed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. ] 1. A suspensory. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The cord which suspends the embryo; and which is attached to the radicle in the young state; the proembryo. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Suspensoria [ NL. ] (Anat.) Anything which suspends or holds up a part: especially, the mandibular suspensorium (a series of bones, or of cartilages representing them) which connects the base of the lower jaw with the skull in most vertebrates below mammals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Suspended; hanging; depending. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fitted or serving to suspend; suspending; as, a suspensory muscle. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a suspensorium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. suspensoir, suspensoire. ] That which suspends, or holds up, as a truss; specifically (Med.), a bandage or bag for supporting the scrotum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Indispensable. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unavoidable; inevitable. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not to be freed by dispensation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not dispensed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not freed by dispensation. [ R. ] Tooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]