*spens*

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 ]