v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disposed p. pr. & vb. n. Disposing. ] [ F. disposer; pref. dis- + poser to place. See Pose. ] 1. To distribute and put in place; to arrange; to set in order; as, to dispose the ships in the form of a crescent. [ 1913 Webster ] Who hath disposed the whole world? Job xxxiv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ] All ranged in order and disposed with grace. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] The rest themselves in troops did else dispose. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To regulate; to adjust; to settle; to determine. [ 1913 Webster ] The knightly forms of combat to dispose. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To deal out; to assign to a use; to bestow for an object or purpose; to apply; to employ; to dispose of. [ 1913 Webster ] Importuned him that what he designed to bestow on her funeral, he would rather dispose among the poor. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. To give a tendency or inclination to; to adapt; to cause to turn; especially, to incline the mind of; to give a bent or propension to; to incline; to make inclined; -- usually followed by to, sometimes by for before the indirect object. [ 1913 Webster ] Endure and conquer; Jove will soon dispose
To future good our past and present woes. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] Suspicions dispose kings to tyranny, husbands to jealousy, and wise men to irresolution and melancholy. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
To dispose of. (a) To determine the fate of; to exercise the power of control over; to fix the condition, application, employment, etc. of; to direct or assign for a use. [ 1913 Webster ] Freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons. Locke. (b) To exercise finally one's power of control over; to pass over into the control of some one else, as by selling; to alienate; to part with; to relinquish; to get rid of; as, to dispose of a house; to dispose of one's time. [ 1913 Webster ] More water . . . than can be disposed of. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ] I have disposed of her to a man of business. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ] A rural judge disposed of beauty's prize. Waller.
Syn. -- To set; arrange; order; distribute; adjust; regulate; adapt; fit; incline; bestow; give. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
