dispense

verb

1. To issue, distribute, or give out.

   “He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company.”

   “The smoky spray seemed to trap whatever light there was and to dispense it subtly.”

2. To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.

   “to dispense justice”

   “While you dispense the laws, and guide the state.”

3. To supply or make up a medicine or prescription.

   “The pharmacist dispensed my tablets.”

   “An optician can dispense spectacles.”

4. To give a dispensation to (someone); to excuse.

   “After his victories, he often gave them the reines to all licenciousnesse, for a while dispencing them from all rules of military discipline[…].”

   “Of evils the first and greatest is, that hereby a most absurd and rash imputation is fixt upon God and his holy Laws, of conniving and dispensing with open and common adultery among his chosen people; a thing which the rankest politician would think it shame and disworship, that his Laws should countenance; how and in what manner this comes to passe, I shall reserve, till the course of method brings on the unfolding of many Scriptures.”

   “1779–81, Samuel Johnson, "Richard Savage" in Lives of the Most Eminent English Poet He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself.”

   “It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance.”

   “Every spring, the passive aggressive archbishop suffered from a brief flu that dispensed him from needing to provide Easter service to the king.”

5. (intransitive, obsolete)To compensate; to make up; to make amends.

   “One loving howre / For many yeares of sorrow can dispence”

   “His synne was dispensed with golde, wherof it was compensed”

noun

1. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Cost, expenditure.
2. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)The act of dispensing, dispensation.

   “[…] what euer in this worldly state / Is sweet, and pleasing vnto liuing sense, / Or that may dayntiest fantasie aggrate, / Was poured forth with plentifull dispence […]”