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Moon7296 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Dispense / dispense with

wow........... I think this verb (dispense) is very weird.

When it is used singly, it means to distribute or administer(according to my dictionary)

e.g., The Red Cross dispensed medical supplies to the refugees.

But, when it is used with 'with' the meaning is broken widely!

phrasal v. to dispense with sb/sth : to do or manage without.

I was very surprised it includes 'without,' just by adding with.

e.g. The participants in the meeting dispensed with the usual formalities.

I feel very frustrastedEmotion: sad

Is there any other verbs just like it?
  

Top answer

Hi, Here is some info on how these meanings developed. term=dispense I don't see the two meanings you mention as being completely unrelated. Church officials ' granted people a dispensation from something'.

— Clive

  • Hi, Here is some info on how these meanings developed.
  • term=dispense I don't see the two meanings you mention as being completely unrelated.
  • Church officials ' granted people a dispensation from something'.
  • This means they freed them from having to perform some kind of religious obligation.
  • This is very similar to 'they allowed people to dispense with something'.
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2 Answers
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Hi,

Here is some info on how these meanings developed.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=dispense

I don't see the two meanings you me
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moon7296Are there any other verbs just like it?
You have to look a little deeper to see that the meaning is not really "broken." Often if you look at the history of a word, you will see the connection.

dispense
early 14c., from Old French dispenser "give out," from L. dispensare "disburse, administer, distribute (by weight)," frequentativ
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